Havana - Santiago de Cuba

On approach to Santiago de Cuba, the pilots encountered poor weather conditions and low visibility. In rain falls, the three engine aircraft impacted the slope of a mountain located near Palma Soriano, north of Santiago. Both pilots and two passengers were killed. First accident involving Cubana, the national carrier of Cuba, since its creation in 1929. Crew: Torres Navarro, pilot, Emeterio Vorilla, copilot.

Flight / Schedule

Havana - Santiago de Cuba

Aircraft

Ford 4

Registration

NM-7

MSN

4-AT-063

Year of Manufacture

1929

Date

December 10, 1934 at 07:30 AM

Type

CRASH

Flight Type

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Flight Phase

Landing (descent or approach)

Crash Site

Mountains

Crash Location

Palma Soriano Santiago de Cuba

Region

Central America • Cuba

Coordinates

20.2228°, -76.0001°

Crash Cause

Weather

Narrative Report

On December 10, 1934 at 07:30 AM, Havana - Santiago de Cuba experienced a crash involving Ford 4, operated by Cubana de Aviación, with the event recorded near Palma Soriano Santiago de Cuba.

The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a mountains crash site.

8 people were known to be on board, 4 fatalities were recorded, 4 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 50.0%.

Crew on board: 3, crew fatalities: 2, passengers on board: 5, passenger fatalities: 2, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is weather. On approach to Santiago de Cuba, the pilots encountered poor weather conditions and low visibility. In rain falls, the three engine aircraft impacted the slope of a mountain located near Palma Soriano, north of Santiago. Both pilots and two passengers were killed. First accident involving Cubana, the national carrier of Cuba, since its creation in 1929. Crew: Torres Navarro, pilot, Emeterio Vorilla, copilot.

Aircraft reference details include registration NM-7, MSN 4-AT-063, year of manufacture 1929.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 20.2228°, -76.0001°.

Fatalities

Total

4

Crew

2

Passengers

2

Other

0

Crash Summary

On approach to Santiago de Cuba, the pilots encountered poor weather conditions and low visibility. In rain falls, the three engine aircraft impacted the slope of a mountain located near Palma Soriano, north of Santiago. Both pilots and two passengers were killed. First accident involving Cubana, the national carrier of Cuba, since its creation in 1929. Crew: Torres Navarro, pilot, Emeterio Vorilla, copilot.

Cause: Weather

Occupants & Outcome

Crew On Board

3

Passengers On Board

5

Estimated Survivors

4

Fatality Rate

50.0%

Known people on board: 8

Operational Details

Schedule / Flight

Havana - Santiago de Cuba

Flight Type

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Flight Phase

Landing (descent or approach)

Crash Site

Mountains

Region / Country

Central America • Cuba

Aircraft Details

Aircraft

Ford 4

Registration

NM-7

MSN

4-AT-063

Year of Manufacture

1929

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