San Salvador – Miami
Flight / Schedule
San Salvador – Miami
Aircraft
Douglas DC-4Registration
N88900
MSN
10504
Year of Manufacture
1945
Operator
Pan American World Airways - PAADate
September 12, 1959 at 04:15 AM
Type
CRASHFlight Type
Cargo
Flight Phase
Flight
Crash Site
Mountains
Crash Location
Mercedes Ocotepeque
Region
Central America • Honduras
Coordinates
14.3134°, -88.9872°
Crash Cause
Human factor
Narrative Report
On September 12, 1959 at 04:15 AM, San Salvador – Miami experienced a crash involving Douglas DC-4, operated by Pan American World Airways - PAA, with the event recorded near Mercedes Ocotepeque.
The flight was categorized as cargo and the reported phase was flight at a mountains crash site.
3 people were known to be on board, 3 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.
Crew on board: 3, crew fatalities: 3, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.
The listed crash cause is human factor. Christened 'Clipper Fearless', the airplane departed San Salvador-Ilopango Airport with a delay of five hours due to loading issues. While cruising by night on a cargo flight to Miami, the crew failed to realize his altitude was insufficient and that he was not following the assigned route when the airplane struck trees and crashed in a wooded area located near Mercedes. The aircraft was destroyed and all three crew members were killed.
Aircraft reference details include registration N88900, MSN 10504, year of manufacture 1945.
Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 14.3134°, -88.9872°.
Fatalities
Total
3
Crew
3
Passengers
0
Other
0
Crash Summary
Christened 'Clipper Fearless', the airplane departed San Salvador-Ilopango Airport with a delay of five hours due to loading issues. While cruising by night on a cargo flight to Miami, the crew failed to realize his altitude was insufficient and that he was not following the assigned route when the airplane struck trees and crashed in a wooded area located near Mercedes. The aircraft was destroyed and all three crew members were killed.
Cause: Human factor
Occupants & Outcome
Crew On Board
3
Passengers On Board
0
Estimated Survivors
0
Fatality Rate
100.0%
Known people on board: 3
Operational Details
Schedule / Flight
San Salvador – Miami
Operator
Pan American World Airways - PAAFlight Type
Cargo
Flight Phase
Flight
Crash Site
Mountains
Region / Country
Central America • Honduras
Aircraft Details
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