Country
Panama
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Colón

Crash of an Embraer EMB-110P1 Bandeirante near Colón: 21 killed

Date & Time: Jul 19, 1994 at 1830 LT
Type of aircraft:
Embraer EMB-110 Bandeirante
Operator:
Alas Chiricanas
Registration:
HP-1202AC
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Colón – Panama City
MSN:
110-375
YOM:
1981
Flight number:
00901
Location:
Colón
Colón
Country:
Panama
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
18
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
21
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Colón-Enrique Adolfo Jiménez Airport in poor weather conditions (low pressure zone). During initial climb, the aircraft suffered an explosion and crashed 10 km from the airport. The crew did not send any distress call. The aircraft disintegrated and all 21 occupants were killed, among them 12 Jewish businessman.
Probable cause:
It was reported that metal fragment were recovered on all bodies and that the 'accident' was the result of an in-flight explosion caused by the presence of a bomb places on board by members of a terrorist group called 'Ansar Allah'.

Crash of a Pilatus PC-6/C-H2 Turbo Porter on Mt El Ratan

Date & Time: Nov 17, 1973
Type of aircraft:
Pilatus PC-6 (Porter & Turbo Porter)
Operator:
Compania STOL
Registration:
HP-564
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
2044
YOM:
1971
Location:
Mt El Ratan
Colón
Country:
Panama
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 on Mt El Ratan located in the region of Colón. There were no casualties while the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Douglas B-18 Bolo in Gatún Lake

Date & Time: Mar 14, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Douglas B-18 Bolo
Operator:
Registration:
36-307
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
1695
YOM:
1936
Location:
Gatún Lake
Colón
Country:
Panama
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
For unknown reasons, the crew was forced to ditch the airplane into Gatún Lake. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Martin B-10B on Naranja Island

Date & Time: Jul 2, 1938
Type of aircraft:
Martin B-10 (Model 139 & 166)
Operator:
Registration:
34-96
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
627
YOM:
1934
Location:
Naranja Island
Colón
Country:
Panama
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on Naranja Island following an engine failure. Crew fate unknown.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Sikorsky S-43 off Cristóbal: 14 killed

Date & Time: Aug 2, 1937 at 1938 LT
Type of aircraft:
Sikorsky S-43
Operator:
Registration:
NC15065
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Lima – Guayaquil – Tumaco – Cali – Cristóbal – Panama City
MSN:
4305
YOM:
1936
Location:
Colón
Colón
Country:
Panama
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
14
Captain / Total hours on type:
991.00
Circumstances:
While descending to Cristóbal-France Field (Colón) at an altitude of some 2,000 feet, the pilot informed ATC that he was approaching the city via the Bahía Limón Bay. In limited visibility due to rain falls, the float plane named 'Santa Maria' went out of control and crashed into the sea few km offshore. Debris were found the following floating on water and all 14 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The Board is conclusively of the opinion that the accident was caused by the NC15065 striking the water while moving less then 90 miles per hour, tearing the ship to pieces, causing the death of all aboard and that a fire resulted from the impact with the water. The Board is convinced that at the time of the collision the plane had a minimum of 80 gallons of gas which would have burned on the water a sufficient length of time to cause all burns or scorches found one any recovered wreckage. The specific contributing cause of this aircraft colliding with the water is beyond the knowledge of man. However, there must have been a specific contributing cause or causes, and the Board is of the opinion that the most probable contributing cause is one of the following and in the order named:
- Failure of one or both engines due to faulty gasoline system, occurring during the spiraling down mentioned in the pilot's last radio message.
- The encountering of a sudden severe rain, as altitude was being lost by the plane in the spiraling descent, resulting in the blanking out of all visual contact.

Crash of a Keystone B-3A off France Field: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 9, 1935
Type of aircraft:
Keystone LB-3
Operator:
Registration:
30-289
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Location:
Colón
Colón
Country:
Panama
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in the Caribbean Sea, some 24 km north of France Field (now Colón). Two crew members were rescued and three others were killed.

Crash of a Douglas OA-4A Dolphin into Lake Gatún

Date & Time: May 31, 1934
Type of aircraft:
Douglas Dolphin
Operator:
Registration:
32-409
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
1134
YOM:
1932
Location:
Gatún Lake
Colón
Country:
Panama
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed into Lake Gatún following an in-flight structural failure. There were no casualties.
Probable cause:
Loss of control following an in-flight structural failure.

Crash of a Sikorsky S-38B off Colón

Date & Time: Feb 7, 1931 at 1730 LT
Type of aircraft:
Sikorsky S-38
Operator:
Registration:
NC306N
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Talara – Colón
MSN:
414-04
YOM:
1929
Location:
Colón
Colón
Country:
Panama
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a mail flight from Talara, Peru, to France Field (Colón). Upon arrival, the seaplane crashed in unknown circumstances in the Limón Bay. All three occupants were injured.
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