Country
Crash of a Douglas DC-2-243 in Rio Grande: 3 killed
Date & Time:
Jul 20, 1961
Operator:
Registration:
XA-KIC
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Oaxaca – Acapulco
MSN:
2069
YOM:
1939
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
En route from Oaxaca to Acapulco, the airplane struck a mountain and was destroyed. All three occupants were killed.
Crash of a Douglas DC-2-243 near Oaxaca: 22 killed
Date & Time:
Jul 14, 1955 at 1545 LT
Operator:
Registration:
XA-DOB
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Acapulco – Oaxaca
MSN:
2088
YOM:
1939
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
19
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
22
Circumstances:
The crew started the descent to Oaxaca-Xoxocotlan Airport when the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located 39 km from the airport. The wreckage was spotted few hours later and all 22 occupants have been killed. For undetermined reason, the crew started the descent prematurely.
Crash of a Douglas DC-2-118B in Villa Harding Green
Date & Time:
Dec 2, 1954
Operator:
Registration:
LV-AHI
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
1351
YOM:
1935
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll, the aircraft deviated from the centerline to the left and then to the right. The pilot-in-command elected to control the aircraft that veered off runway to the right and came to rest in flames. All four occupants were able to evacuate safely while the aircraft was destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
Inadequate handling during takeoff, as a result of lack of experience, consisting in not sufficiently correcting the swerve of the aircraft during the initial run, a contributory cause being the probable failure of the starboard engine.
Crash of a Douglas DC-2-115B in Kosti: 2 killed
Date & Time:
Aug 29, 1952 at 2105 LT
Registration:
ZS-DFW
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Johannesburg – Bulawayo – Lusaka – Tabora – Juba – Wadi Halfa – Khartoum – Cairo – Southend
MSN:
1322
YOM:
1934
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The aircraft took off on a cargo flight from Rand Airport in Jo'burg to Southend, England, with a crew of four, two passengers and a load of Karakul pelts. The passengers left the aircraft at Bulawayo, deciding not to complete their journey. The aircraft started in company with another of the same operator which also crashed en route. On attempting a diversion landing at Kosti at night without suitable ground aids, the aircraft ran off the runway and collided with a steel support for a windsock and afterwards with trees causing major damage. Two crew were killed and two were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
The primary cause of the accident was that extremely bad weather forced the Captain of the airplane to divert from his original destination. No proper preparation had been made for a possible landing at an alternate airfield prior to commencement of flight. The secondary cause was due to the Captain's attempt to execute a landing at Kosti aerodrome which was not equipped with night landing facilities. The Captain landed on the runway but was unable to align himself with the centre line and in consequence ran off the runway and struck a steel windsock support and thereafter struck various obstructions such as trees which lay in the path.
The following factors were considered as contributory:
- Because of radio interference due to a storm, proper use could not be made of the radio navigational facilities carried on the aircraft,
- The lack of appreciation by the Captain of his final responsibility for the operational control of the aircraft, which includes diversionary action, and his apparent failure to appreciate the purely advisory responsibility of Khartoum as a flight information centre.
The following factors were considered as contributory:
- Because of radio interference due to a storm, proper use could not be made of the radio navigational facilities carried on the aircraft,
- The lack of appreciation by the Captain of his final responsibility for the operational control of the aircraft, which includes diversionary action, and his apparent failure to appreciate the purely advisory responsibility of Khartoum as a flight information centre.
Final Report:
Crash of a Douglas DC-2-243 in San Luis Acatlán: 13 killed
Date & Time:
Nov 27, 1951
Operator:
Registration:
XA-DOQ
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
San Luis Acatlán – Acapulco
MSN:
2077
YOM:
1939
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
18
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from San Luis Acatlán Aerodrome, while in initial climb, the airplane hit an obstacle and crashed. Both pilots and eleven passengers were killed while eight other occupants were injured. It was determined that while approaching San Luis Acatlán Airfield earlier that day, the crew spotted some cattle on the grassy runway and it took time for locals to remove all animals. Thus, the landing was delayed and when the crew started the takeoff run to Acapulco, it was already dark and the visibility was apparently insufficient.
