Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-60-CK Commando in Belize City: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 6, 1962
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
HR-TNB
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Belize City – Tegucigalpa
MSN:
435
YOM:
1945
Location:
Belize City-Philip S. W. Goldson
Belize
Country:
Belize
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Belize City-Philip S. W. Goldson Airport, while climbing, the left engine failed. The airplane banked left, stalled and crashed in a dense wooded area located near the airfield. A crew member was killed while the second pilot was injured. The aircraft was destroyed. It was determined that at the time of the accident, the total weight of the aircraft was 500 pound over the MTOW, which probably contributed to the engine failure.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left engine shortly after rotation and aircraft overloaded.

Crash of a Beechcraft AT-11 Kansan off Belize: 7 killed

Date & Time: Nov 1, 1961
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft AT-11 Kansan
Operator:
Registration:
BHB-1508
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Ambulance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Chetumal – Belize City
MSN:
3861
YOM:
1943
Location:
Belize
All Belize
Country:
Belize
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft was completing an ambulance flight from Chetumal to Belize City, carrying one patient, one accompanist, two doctors and three crew members. As the airplane failed to arrive at Belize City Airport, SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the seven occupants was found. It is believed the aircraft has crashed into the sea off the Belize coast.
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