Tegucigalpa-Managua-San José
Flight / Schedule
Tegucigalpa-Managua-San José
Aircraft
Boeing 737-200Registration
EI-CBL
MSN
20957
Year of Manufacture
1974
Date
November 17, 1991 at 12:00 AM
Type
CRASHFlight Type
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Flight Phase
Landing (descent or approach)
Crash Site
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Crash Location
San José-Juan Santamaría Alajuela (Center-North)
Region
Central America • Costa Rica
Crash Cause
Human factor
Narrative Report
On November 17, 1991 at 12:00 AM, Tegucigalpa-Managua-San José experienced a crash involving Boeing 737-200, operated by SAHSA - Servicios Aéreos de Honduras SA, with the event recorded near San José-Juan Santamaría Alajuela (Center-North).
The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.
42 people were known to be on board, 0 fatalities were recorded, 42 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 0.0%.
Crew on board: 6, crew fatalities: 0, passengers on board: 36, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.
The listed crash cause is human factor. 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.
Aircraft reference details include registration EI-CBL, MSN 20957, year of manufacture 1974.
Fatalities
Total
0
Crew
0
Passengers
0
Other
0
Crash Summary
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.
Cause: Human factor
Occupants & Outcome
Crew On Board
6
Passengers On Board
36
Estimated Survivors
42
Fatality Rate
0.0%
Known people on board: 42
Operational Details
Schedule / Flight
Tegucigalpa-Managua-San José
Flight Type
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Flight Phase
Landing (descent or approach)
Crash Site
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Region / Country
Central America • Costa Rica
Aircraft Details
Similar Plane Crashes
Pan American World Airways - PAA
Loening C-2 Air Yacht
The airplane was engaged in a survey mission over the Canal zone in Panama and departed San José Airport with two passengers and two crew members, a mechanic and a pilot. As the aircraft was too heavy, one passenger was asked to leave and part of the mail was offloaded as well. On the second attempt to takeoff, the airplane lifted off but was caught by downdrafts, struck trees and crashed. All four occupants were uninjured and the aircraft was destroyed.
Pablo Sídar Escobar
Emsco B.3
The aircraft departed Mexico City on a non stop flight to Buenos Aires with two crew members on board. While flying along the east coast of Costa Rica, the crew encountered poor weather conditions when the airplane crashed in the sea off Puerto Limón. SAR operations were initiated and some debris were found three weeks later on local beaches. No trace of both crew members was ever found. Crew: Col Pablo Sídar Escobar, pilot, Lt Carlos Rovirosa Pérez.
Empresa Nacional de Transporte Aéreo - ENTA
Travel Air 6000
Hit trees and crashed in an isolated area located in the Cerro Las Vueltas while completing a flight from San José to San Isidro de El General. As the airplane failed to arrive, SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the six occupants was found. The wreckage was found in 1941.
TACA International Airlines - Transportes Aéreos Centro Americanos
Ford 5
Crashed in unknown circumstances.
TACA International Airlines - Transportes Aéreos Centro Americanos
Ford 5
Crashed in unknown circumstances. Occupant fate unknown.
United States Army Air Corps - USAAC
Douglas C-33 (DC-2)
En route, the crew was forced to attempt an emergency landing after an engine fired in flight. The aircraft crash landed in a pasture and was damaged beyond repair. No casualties.