Paramaribo – Lawa

While approaching Lawa-Antino airport, the crew was informed that another airplane was on the runway at that time. The crew initiated a go-around procedure when the aircraft hit a wooded hillside and crashed, bursting into flames. All 19 occupants were killed.

Flight / Schedule

Paramaribo – Lawa

Registration

PZ-TSO

MSN

1AJ007-17

Year of Manufacture

1990

Date

April 3, 2008 at 11:00 AM

Type

CRASH

Flight Type

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Flight Phase

Landing (descent or approach)

Crash Site

Mountains

Crash Location

Benzdorp Sipaliwini

Region

South America • Suriname

Coordinates

3.6740°, -54.0852°

Narrative Report

On April 3, 2008 at 11:00 AM, Paramaribo – Lawa experienced a crash involving PZL-Mielec AN-28, operated by Blue Wing Airlines, with the event recorded near Benzdorp Sipaliwini.

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

19 people were known to be on board, 19 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 2, crew fatalities: 2, passengers on board: 17, passenger fatalities: 17, other fatalities: 0.

While approaching Lawa-Antino airport, the crew was informed that another airplane was on the runway at that time. The crew initiated a go-around procedure when the aircraft hit a wooded hillside and crashed, bursting into flames. All 19 occupants were killed.

Aircraft reference details include registration PZ-TSO, MSN 1AJ007-17, year of manufacture 1990.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 3.6740°, -54.0852°.

Fatalities

Total

19

Crew

2

Passengers

17

Other

0

Crash Summary

While approaching Lawa-Antino airport, the crew was informed that another airplane was on the runway at that time. The crew initiated a go-around procedure when the aircraft hit a wooded hillside and crashed, bursting into flames. All 19 occupants were killed.

Occupants & Outcome

Crew On Board

2

Passengers On Board

17

Estimated Survivors

0

Fatality Rate

100.0%

Known people on board: 19

Operational Details

Schedule / Flight

Paramaribo – Lawa

Flight Type

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Flight Phase

Landing (descent or approach)

Crash Site

Mountains

Region / Country

South America • Suriname

Aircraft Details

Registration

PZ-TSO

MSN

1AJ007-17

Year of Manufacture

1990

Similar Plane Crashes

January 15, 1943 at 12:00 AM35 Fatalities

United States Army Air Forces - USAAF

Douglas C-54 Skymaster

The four-engine aircraft was performing a flight from the US to Casablanca via South America (probably Natal), on behalf of the Air Transport Command. The on board delegation was flying to Morocco to take part to a conference. Rumors of a bomb on board caused the crew to divert to Port of Spain. A screwdriver was found in the hatch containing the IFF device but no trace of a bomb. While flying over Suriname, the aircraft exploded in mid-air, disintegrated and crashed in an isolated area located 30 miles northeast of Paramaribo. All 35 occupants were killed, among them Eric Mowbray Night, author and creator of the fictional collie 'Lassie'. He was Major by the US Army Special Services as well. Two identical C-54 planes traveling just 1/2 hour before and after this plane noticed anti-aircraft fire coming from what appeared to be an enemy submarine. Crew (TWA): Benjamin Hart Dally Jr., pilot, Theodore M. Wagner, copilot, Samuel S. Dorrance, flight surgeon, Everett Lee Bacon, copilot, Jason E. Voss, navigator, James M. Kane, navigator, Clyde E. Quisenberry, flight engineer, Leonard La Frank, radio operator, Leo J. Moriarty, radio operator, Eugene A. Dempf, flight purser. Passengers: Maj Eric Mowbray Knight, Cpt Albert L. Seeman, Cpt Basil D. Gallagher, 1st Lt Charles W. Campbell, 1st Lt Peter D. Barnhart, 1st Lt Donald C. Martin, 2nd Lt Carl A. Matteo, 2nd Lt Robert B. Walker, 2nd Lt John T. Girling, 2nd Lt Thomas L. Gallagher, 2nd Lt Max Solomon, F/O Charles S. Shively, S/Sgt Russell A. Baughman, S/Sgt Ellis H. Roberts Jr., S/Sgt Heyward O. Wylie, S/Sgt Roger M. Stoflet, Sgt Oscar Spahr Jr., Sgt Charles S. Roberts Jr., Percy E. Foxworth, Harold D. Haberfeld, William Hodson, James W. Seeger, Charles Howell Brown, Osmon E. Henryson, Morris Lewis. Source: http://www.lassiecomehome.info/id8.html

May 20, 1943 at 12:00 AM

United States Army Air Forces - USAAF

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

En route, the crew was forced to attempt an emergency landing following an engine failure. The aircraft crashed in a field 96 km from Paramaribo-Zanderij Airport. The occupant fate remains unknown.

October 12, 1943 at 12:00 AM6 Fatalities

United States Navy - USN

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Crashed on take off, killing all six crewmen.

October 6, 1959 at 12:00 AM2 Fatalities

SLM Surinam Airways - Surinaamse Luchtvaart Maatschappij

Rockwell Aero Commander 520

The crew was completing a cargo flight from Paramaribo, carrying a load of building materials to be dropped in Palomeu for the construction of the new Airport. While approaching in mist, the airplane struck a hill and crashed. The aircraft was destroyed and both pilots were killed. The captain was Vincent Fajks who later gave his name to the airport of Palomeu. The copilot, Rudi Elwin Kappel, co-founder of the National career SLM, gave his name to the airport of Tafelberg.

June 19, 1960 at 12:00 AM3 Fatalities

United States Air Force - USAF

Douglas C-124 Globemaster II

On approach to Paramaribo-Zanderij Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and limited visibility. Too low, the four engine airplane struck trees, stalled and crashed in flames in a wooded area located 4,5 km short of runway. Three crew members were killed while four others were injured.

August 15, 1960 at 12:00 AM

SLM Surinam Airways - Surinaamse Luchtvaart Maatschappij

Northrop N-23 Pioneer

Crashed in unknown circumstances near Paramaribo-Zorg en Hoop Airport. Occupant's fate remains unknown.