Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo off Kingston: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 16, 1977 at 2003 LT
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-310 Navajo
Operator:
Growth Air
Registration:
N483LC
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Barranquilla - Tampa
MSN:
31-426
YOM:
1969
Location:
Kingston
Kingston City District
Country:
Jamaica
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
715
Circumstances:
While approaching the Jamaican coast on a flight from Barranquilla to Tampa, both engines failed. The pilot lost control of the airplane that crashed into the sea off Kingston. SAR operations were initiated but no trace of the aircraft nor the pilot was ever found.
Probable cause:
Due to lack of evidences, the cause of the accident could not be determined.
Final Report:

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A-8 Islander in San Cristóbal de Las Casas: 13 killed

Date & Time: Nov 3, 1977
Type of aircraft:
Britten-Norman Islander
Operator:
Servicios Aéreos Martinez Leon
Registration:
XA-FUA
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Palenque - San Cristóbal de Las Casas
MSN:
388
YOM:
1974
Location:
San Cristóbal de Las Casas
Chiapas
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Circumstances:
On final approach to San Cristóbal de Las Casas Airport, the twin engine airplane suffered an in-flight explosion and crashed in flames few dozen meters short of runway threshold. The aircraft was destroyed and all 13 occupants were killed, among them members of the National Indian Institute.
Probable cause:
The cause of the in-flight explosion remains unknown.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-3 Otter off Parismina

Date & Time: Oct 28, 1977 at 0810 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-3 Otter
Operator:
Costarican Government
Registration:
TI-SPF
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Aerial photography
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
San José - San José
MSN:
100
YOM:
1956
Location:
Parismina
Limón (Caribbean Coast)
Country:
Costa Rica
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
5122
Circumstances:
Operated by the Costa Rican Ministry of National Security, the aircraft departed San José-Juan Santamaria Airport at 0710LT for an overflight of the Tortuguero National Park, carrying two pilots, a Park Officer and three photographers. While cruising over the sea off Parismina, the engine exploded. Unable to reach the nearest airport, the crew ditched the aircraft about 500 meters offshore. All six occupants swam to the shore and the airplane sank and was lost.
Probable cause:
Engine explosion for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Beechcraft E18S in Bridgetown

Date & Time: Oct 5, 1977
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft E18
Operator:
Registration:
PT-KXO
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
BA-205
YOM:
1956
Location:
Bridgetown-Grantley Adams
All Barbados
Country:
Barbados
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances near Bridgetown-Grantley Adams Airport. The pilot, sole on board, was injured.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-25-DK in Santa Elena: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 30, 1977
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
TG-AKA
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
13327
YOM:
1944
Location:
Flores-Mundo Maya (Santa Elena)
Petén
Country:
Guatemala
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
After touchdown on a gravel runway, the left tire burst. Control was lost and the airplane veered off runway to the left. The left engine struck the ground, causing a propeller blade to detach and to struck the cockpit. The airplane rolled for few meters then came to a halt. Three occupants escaped with minor injuries while the captain was killed after being struck by the propeller blade.

Crash of an IAI Arava 201 in San Salvador

Date & Time: Sep 27, 1977
Type of aircraft:
IAI Arava 201
Operator:
Registration:
FAS802
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
14
YOM:
1975
Location:
San Salvador-Ilopango
San Salvador
Country:
Salvador
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane crashed upon landing at Ilopango Airport. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Cessna 207 Skywagon in San Luis de Lozada: 5 killed

Date & Time: Sep 5, 1977 at 0800 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 207 Skywagon/Stationair
Operator:
Transportes Aéreos de Nayarit (TANSA)
Registration:
XA-COB
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
San Luis de Lozada
Nayarit
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from Tepic Airport, while climbing, the single engine airplane went out of control and crashed under unknown circumstances in San Luis de Lozada, about 16 km northeast of Tepic Airport. The aircraft was destroyed and all five occupants were killed.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-10-CU Commando off Goyave

Date & Time: Aug 24, 1977
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Quarterwins Aviation
Registration:
N74689
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Roseau - Christiansted
MSN:
32975
YOM:
1944
Location:
Goyave
Guadeloupe
Country:
Guadeloupe
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While in normal cruise on a cargo flight from Roseau to Christiansted, the left engine lost hydraulic pressure. The crew shut down the engine and feathered its propeller when the right engine misfired shortly later. In such conditions, the captain reduced his altitude and ditched the aircraft off Goyave. All four occupants were quickly rescued while the aircraft sank and was lost.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left engine due to hydraulic pressure issue for unknown reasons. The right engine also partially failed probably after being subject to an excessive use.

Crash of a Convair CV-880-22-2 in San José: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 20, 1977
Type of aircraft:
Convair CV-880
Operator:
Monarch Aviation
Registration:
N8817E
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
San José - Caracas
MSN:
22-00-65
YOM:
1962
Location:
San José-Juan Santamaría
Alajuela (Center-North)
Country:
Costa Rica
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Two minutes and 20 seconds after takeoff from runway 25 at San José-Juan Santamaria Airport, while in initial climb, the four engine airplane rolled to the right, lost height and crashed in a wooded area located 4 km from the airport. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all three crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty as both CVR and FDR were inoperative at the time of the accident. However, the assumption that the accident was the consequence of an overloaded aircraft was not ruled out.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Yoro: 25 killed

Date & Time: Jul 25, 1977 at 0800 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
301
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Yoro - Tegucigalpa
MSN:
6096
YOM:
1942
Location:
Yoro
Yoro
Country:
Honduras
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
36
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
25
Circumstances:
During initial climb, the left engine failed and caught fire. Control was lost and the airplane crashed in a mountainous terrain located few km from the airport. 25 occupants were killed while 15 others were injured. All passengers were employees of local companies travelling with family members.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left engine during initial climb.
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