SAHSA - Servicios Aéreos de Honduras SA

Boeing 737-200

The approach to Managua-Augusto Cesar Sandino Airport was completed in poor weather conditions with limited visibility due to thunderstorm activity and heavy rain falls. On short final, the captain got distracted by lightning striking the ground to the right of the airplane. Then the aircraft landed nose first, causing it to be partially torn off. The aircraft bounced, veered off runway to the right and came to rest 45 metres to the right of the runway. All 94 occupants evacuated safely, except a crew member who was seriously injured.

Boeing 737-200

The copilot was the pilot-in-command on approach to runway 07 at San José-Juan Santamaría Airport. On final approach, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and limited visibility due to fog and was unable to locate the runway and its lighting system. On short final, the captain realized that the aircraft was not properly aligned on the glide and took over controls. He attempted to correct the trajectory but the unstable aircraft continued to descend and landed to the right of the runway. The aircraft rolled for about 1,500 metres when it struck a drainage ditch. Both main landing gears were torn off and the aircraft came to rest on its belly in a grassy area. All 42 occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

The aircraft was completing a flight from Guanaja to San Pedro Sula with an intermediate stop in Roatán. After landing, the crew encountered strong crosswinds when the aircraft veered off runway and crashed in the Caribbean Sea. A crew member and six passengers were killed while 25 other occupants were injured.

Lockheed L-188 Electra

Prior to takeoff from Guatemala City to Tegucigalpa, one of the engine failed as well as a generator. Passengers were disembarked and the captain decided to fly to Tegucigalpa on three engines only. Less than one minute after takeoff, while climbing, the pilot reported a critical situation and requested an immediate return. While making a last turn, the airplane lost height and crashed on a residential area located 1,500 meters from the airport, bursting into flames. All six occupants were killed and 38 people on ground were injured. The aircraft and several houses were destroyed.

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

On final approach to Útila Airport, the airplane was too low. It struck a concrete wall, lost its undercarriage and crash landed. There were no casualties.

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Just after takeoff from Sulaco, the airplane struck trees and crashed in a prairie. All 10 occupants were injured and the aircraft was written off.

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

The airplane flew over the runway 01 threshold at a speed of 85 knots when it was caught by a strong gust of wind. It gained height then turn to its right heading to the terminal. To avoid any collision, the pilot-in-command made a turn to the left when the left wingtip struck the ground, causing the aircraft to crash by the runway. All 18 occupants were rescued and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Douglas DC-6

Flight 203 was a scheduled domestic flight from La Mesa Airport, Cortis Department, to Toncontín, Tegucigalpa, D.C., with three flight crew members, two stewardesses and fifty passengers on board. The gross weight of the aircraft at take-off was 75 023 lbs. After a routine pre-flight check which did not reveal any abnormality, the aircraft took off from La Mesa at 0815 hours. Its estimated flight time was 32 minutes and the en-route altitude was 7 500 ft. After 23 minutes of flight the aircraft contacted Toncontín control tower over "El Rancho" and requested authorization to use frequency 118.1 Mc/s. This was acknowledged by the tower which cleared the aircraft to enter the circuit for a landing on runway 01, the wind being calm. The crew then requested to use runway 19 but the tower refused because there was some traffic on runway 01 and several aircraft were waiting to land on that runway. The landing was initiated, 20° of flaps and the undercarriage were lowered; the pilot reported on base leg and extended the flaps to 300. According to the flight crew the indicated airspeed was 100 kt over the fence located before the threshold of runway 01. The landing was normal and smooth and immediately after the nose-wheel touched down the pilot-in-command called for withdrawal of the safety lock of the propeller reverse system. This was done; however the throttle controls would not shift to the desired position (rearward) to operate the propeller reverse system satisfactorily. Three consecutive attempts were made without success. The pilot evaluated the situation and, since the air- craft had passed the point where a go-around could be attempted, he decided to use the brakes only as they appeared to operate normally at the time. According to some reliable observers (aviation mechanics and tower controllers) one of the aircraft's tires burst approximately halfway down the runway and another tire, possibly on the opposite side, burst 50 m farther down. It was assumed that these tires were the two outermost tires. As the aircraft was nearing the end of the runway, the pilot-in-command became afraid of the pronounced slope ahead and veered to the left to execute a 180° turn (ground loop). The turn was successfully completed; however, due to the aircraft's inertia, the radius of the turn was too wide and the nose-wheel ran into a drainage ditch; the aircraft then skidded, the left undercarriage ran into the same ditch and stayed in it, the nose-wheel broke off, the left wing fuel tanks burst and the propellers of Nos. 1 and 4 engines were damaged. A fire resulting from the intense heat of the brakes and wheels, the spilled fuel and the dry grass immediately broke out and destroyed the aircraft. Four passengers were killed while 51 other occupants were evacuated. The aircraft was destroyed.

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Upon landing at Tegucigalpa-Toncontin Airport, the left main gear collapsed. The airplane slid for several yards and came to rest, damaged beyond repair. Both pilots were slightly injured.

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

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.

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Crashed shortly after takeoff for unknown reason, killing all 12 occupants.

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Crashed in unknown circumstances. No casualties.