Crash of a Douglas C-47A-80-DL on Mt Pena Blanca: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jan 6, 1959 at 1120 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
XH-SAA
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Copán – Nuevo Ocotepeque – San Pedro Sula
MSN:
19667
YOM:
1944
Location:
Copán
Copán
Country:
Honduras
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Aircraft flight hours:
15840
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Copán Airport, the pilot-in-command decided to continue under VFR when he encountered marginal weather conditions while flying over a mountainous area. Seven minutes after it departed Copán Airport, the airplane struck the slope of Mt Pena Blanca. The wreckage was found few hours later and all five occupants have been killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was caused by the pilot's attempt to fly over mountainous terrain by visual reference to the ground under weather conditions severely restricting visibility ahead of the aircraft, which forced him to descend to a dangerous altitude.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-50-DK in Juticalpa: 12 killed

Date & Time: Aug 29, 1957
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
XH-SAF
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Catacamas – Juticalpa – Tegucigalpa
MSN:
17139/34406
YOM:
1945
Location:
Juticalpa
Olancho
Country:
Honduras
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
Crashed shortly after takeoff for unknown reason, killing all 12 occupants.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-30-DK in Nuevo Ocotepeque

Date & Time: Dec 17, 1955
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
XH-SAG
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
13800/25245
YOM:
1944
Location:
Nuevo Ocotepeque
Ocotepeque
Country:
Honduras
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances. No casualties.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-30-DK in San Andrés: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 8, 1953 at 1316 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
XH-TAR
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
San Pedro Sula – San Andrés
MSN:
13817/25262
YOM:
1944
Location:
San Andrés
Lempira
Country:
Honduras
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The flight which departed from San Pedro Sula Airport on an extra flight with cargo for the San Andrés Mine, took off at 1242LT. The load was properly distributed with the centre of gravity on take-off, within the authorized limits. At 1316LT, following the first and only attempt to land at San Andrés Aerodrome, the aircraft crashed into a nearby mountain approximately 5 kilometers from the aerodrome. Fire broke out on impact and the aircraft and cargo were completely destroyed. The three crew, who were the only parsons on board, were killed.
Probable cause:
Failure of the right engine when the pilot wished to obtain maximum power from both engines after a missed landing.
Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed C-37 Electra in Honduras

Date & Time: Jan 15, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed C-36 Electra
Operator:
Registration:
XH-TAA
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
MSN:
1104
YOM:
1937
Location:
Honduras
All Honduras
Country:
Honduras
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances somewhere in Honduras. The accident occurred in January 1947 (exact date unknown).

Crash of a Lockheed 10E Electra in Yoro: 7 killed

Date & Time: Oct 17, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 10 Electra
Operator:
Registration:
XH-TAB
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
La Ceiba – Tegucigalpa
MSN:
1133
Location:
Yoro
Yoro
Country:
Honduras
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
While cruising in poor weather conditions, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed in a field near Yoro. All seven occupants were killed.

Crash of a Ford 5 in Tegucigalpa: 16 killed

Date & Time: Nov 29, 1944 at 1500 LT
Type of aircraft:
Ford 5
Operator:
Registration:
XH-TAN
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Tegucigalpa – San Pedro Sula
YOM:
1935
Location:
Tegucigalpa
Francisco Morazán
Country:
Honduras
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
16
Circumstances:
Shortly after lift off, while in initial climb, the right wing failed. The aircraft went out of control and crashed in a huge explosion. All 16 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It appears the loss of the right wing was caused by a structural failure due to excessive vibrations accumulated during operations on difficult and rough terrain.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-2 Coronado off Puerto Castilla: 10 killed

Date & Time: Oct 19, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY-2 Coronado
Operator:
Registration:
7147
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Location:
Puerto Castilla
Colón
Country:
Honduras
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
For unknown reason, the captain was forced to ditch the aircraft off Puerto Castilla. On landing, the seaplane broke in two and sank. A crew member was rescued while all others were killed.

Crash of a Curtiss CT-32 Condor II near La Masica: 5 killed

Date & Time: Feb 27, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss T-32 Condor II
Operator:
Registration:
7
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
La Ceiba – Tegucigalpa
MSN:
35
YOM:
1934
Location:
La Masica
Atlántida
Country:
Honduras
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
While on a flight from La Ceiba to Tegucigalpa, the airplane impacted the slope of a mountain located near La Masica, 29 km southwest of La Ceiba. As the airplane failed to arrive at destination, SAR operations were initiated but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the airplane nor the crew was found. The wreckage was spotted in March 1999 near the La Masica Pass.
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