Country
code

Región Autónoma del Atlántico Sur

Crash of a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan on Mt Silva: 16 killed

Date & Time: Jul 20, 1999 at 0945 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
YN-CED
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Managua – Bluefields
MSN:
208B-0341
YOM:
1993
Flight number:
NIS046
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
16
Circumstances:
The single engine aircraft departed Managua-Augusto C. Sandino Airport in the morning on a flight to Bluefields, carrying two pilots and 14 passengers, most of them members of a development aid organization. While approaching the destination, the crew initiated a VFR descent to Bluefields in marginal weather conditions. At an altitude of 2,000 feet, the aircraft struck the slope of Mt Silva located in the Zelaya Central Mountain Range. The wreckage was found about 50 km west of Bluefields and all 16 occupants were killed, among them a Swiss citizen.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain after the crew initiated the descent under VFR mode in IMC conditions. The following contributing factors were identified:
- Poor weather conditions with low clouds,
- The crew started the descent prematurely, causing the aircraft to descent at 2,000 feet while the minimum safe altitude was 2,700 feet over the area of the accident.

Crash of an Antonov AN-26 in Bluefields: 28 killed

Date & Time: Jan 21, 1999 at 0810 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
152
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Managua - Bluefields
MSN:
142 06
YOM:
1985
Country:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
21
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
28
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Managua Airport at 0710LT on a flight to Bluefields, carrying 21 passengers and a crew of seven, among them 15 civilians. On approach, the crew was instructed by ATC to follow a holding pattern because another aircraft was blocking the main runway. Shortly later, the aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located 6 km from the airport. All 28 occupants were killed.

Crash of an Antonov AN-2 near Laguna de Perlas: 7 killed

Date & Time: Feb 19, 1982
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
28
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances about 45 km west of Laguna de Perlas. The wreckage was found February 19, 1982 and all seven occupants were killed. The date of the mishap is unconfirmed.

Crash of a Fokker Super Universal in Bluefields

Date & Time: Sep 1, 1934
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
NC9129
MSN:
847
YOM:
1929
Country:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances at Bluefields Airport.