Managua – Tegucigalpa – San Salvador – Guatemala City – Mexico City – New Orleans

On March 5, 1959 at 01:35 PM, Managua – Tegucigalpa – San Salvador – Guatemala City – Mexico City – New Orleans experienced a crash involving Vickers Viscount, operated by TACA International Airlines - Transportes Aéreos Centro Americanos, with the event recorded near Managua-Augusto Cesar Sandino-Las Mercedes Managua City District.

The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was takeoff (climb) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

19 people were known to be on board, 15 fatalities were recorded, 4 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 78.9%.

Crew on board: 4, crew fatalities: 2, passengers on board: 15, passenger fatalities: 13, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is technical failure. Shortly after takeoff from runway 29 at Managua-Las Mercedes Airport, while in initial climb, the aircraft banked left and crashed in flames in a field located 2,4 km from the airport. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and 15 people were killed, among them two crew members. Four occupants survived the crash.

Aircraft reference details include registration YS-09C, MSN 82, year of manufacture 1955.