Zone
La Habana

Crash of a Douglas C-53D-DO off Florida: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 7, 1960 at 1410 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-53 Skytrooper (DC-3)
Operator:
Cuban Air Force - Fuerza Aérea del Ejército de Cuba (1952-1961)
Registration:
209
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Positioning
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Havana – Miami
MSN:
11643
YOM:
1943
Location:
Marathon
Florida
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a positioning flight from Havana to Miami for the purpose of maintenance, the propeller to be adjusted. While cruising along the Keys, a distress call was received. The airplane apparently crashed into the Strait of Florida, between Key West and Marathon. SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was ever found.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-10-CU Commando off Havana

Date & Time: Mar 30, 1958
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Aerolineas Nacionales - Costa Rica
Registration:
TI-1019
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
33087
YOM:
1945
Location:
Havana
La Habana
Country:
Cuba
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While conducting a regional flight within Costa Rica, the airplane was hijacked by people who apparently wanted to fly to Florida. Due to fuel exhaustion, the airplane eventually crashed into the Florida Strait, about 56 km off Havana, Cuba. The aircraft was set on fire by hijackers and lost. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-55-CK Commando in Havana

Date & Time: May 17, 1954
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
CU-C556
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
264
YOM:
1945
Location:
Havana
La Habana
Country:
Cuba
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On touchdown, an undercarriage collapse. The airplane went out of control and came to rest, damaged beyond repair. There were no injuries.
Probable cause:
Undercarriage collapsed on landing.

Crash of a Douglas DC-4 off Saint Georges: 37 killed

Date & Time: Dec 6, 1952 at 0445 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-4
Operator:
Registration:
CU-T397
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Madrid – Lajes – Saint George's – Havana
MSN:
10319
YOM:
1944
Location:
Saint George's
All Bermuda
Country:
Bermuda
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
33
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
37
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Saint George's-Kindley Field Airport, while climbing by night, the four engine christened 'Estrella de Oriente' stalled and crashed into the sea about 2,5 miles northeast of the airfield. A crew member and three passengers were rescued while 37 other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. However, it was reported that the aircraft stalled during initial climb and crashed into the sea tail first.

Crash of a Douglas DC-4 off Key West: 39 killed

Date & Time: Apr 25, 1951 at 1149 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-4
Operator:
Registration:
CU-T188
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Miami - Havana
MSN:
10368
YOM:
1944
Flight number:
CU493
Location:
Key West
Florida
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
34
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
39
Captain / Total flying hours:
12158
Captain / Total hours on type:
1317.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
4557
Copilot / Total hours on type:
2791
Aircraft flight hours:
13218
Circumstances:
While cruising at an altitude of 4,000 feet under visual flight rules, the Cuban four engine aircraft christened 'Estrella de Cuba' collided with a USN Beechcraft SNB-1 Kansan. Registered 39939, the twin engine aircraft was carrying a crew of four who were performing a training sortie from Key West NAS. On impact, the Kansan dove into the sea and crashed few miles off shore while the DC-4 continued for few seconds and then crashed into the sea 1,7 miles from the initial point of impact. Both aircraft were destroyed and all 43 occupants were killed. Weather conditions were good at the time of the collision.
Probable cause:
The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was failure of crews of both aircraft to maintain sufficient vigilance under VFR conditions to prevent a collision.
Final Report:

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-15-CU off Maiquetía

Date & Time: Jul 10, 1948
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
CU-P198
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Havana - Maiquetía
MSN:
33534
YOM:
1945
Location:
Caracas-Maiquetía-Simón Bolívar
Vargas
Country:
Venezuela
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Maiquetía-Simón Bolívar Airport, while on a cargo flight from Havana, both engines flamed out. The aircraft stalled and crashed into the sea few hundred yards short of the runway threshold. All three crew members were rescued while the aircraft sank and was lost.
Probable cause:
Double engine flame out caused by a fuel starvation.

Crash of an Avro 691 Lancastrian III in Hamilton

Date & Time: Nov 13, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Avro 691 Lancastrian
Operator:
Registration:
G-AGWG
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
London – Horta – Hamilton – Havana
MSN:
1279
YOM:
1945
Location:
Hamilton
All Bermuda
Country:
Bermuda
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Hamilton bound for Havana, while climbing to a height of 9,000 feet, the engine number four caught fire. The crew elected to return to Hamilton-Kindley Field for an emergency landing. On final approach, the aircraft stalled and crashed few hundred yards short of runway threshold. All 16 occupants were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the failure on engine number four remains unknown. However, it was determined that on final approach, the aircraft stalled when the crew selected full flaps down. At that time, the crew was subject to a certain tension due to the emergency situation and their perception, reaction and judgement were reduced, maybe due to the high concentration of fuel vapor in the cockpit, which remains a contributory factor.

Crash of a Ford 4 in Esperanza: 7 killed

Date & Time: Sep 7, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Ford 4
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Santa Clara – Havana
Location:
Esperanza
Villa Clara
Country:
Cuba
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from Santa Clara, bound for Havana, the crew encountered problem with a fuel leak and elected to return. Unfortunately, weather conditions deteriorated rapidly and the visibility was poor. Apparently to establish a visual contact with the ground, the captain decided to reduce his altitude when the aircraft hit the roof of a house and crashed in Esperanza, about 9 km northwest of Santa Clara. All seven occupants were killed while nobody on the ground was injured.

Crash of a Ford 4 in Palma Soriano: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 10, 1934 at 0730 LT
Type of aircraft:
Ford 4
Operator:
Registration:
NM-7
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Havana - Santiago de Cuba
MSN:
4-AT-063
YOM:
1929
Location:
Palma Soriano
Santiago de Cuba
Country:
Cuba
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
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.

Crash of a Breguet 19 in Mexico: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 20, 1933
Type of aircraft:
Breguet 19
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Havana - Mexico City
Location:
Mexico
All Mexico
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew departed Havana at 0552LT on a 12-hour flight to Mexico City. As the airplane failed to arrive at destination, SAR operations were initiated. No trace of the aircraft nor both Spanish aviators were ever found.
Crew:
Mariano Barberán, pilot,
Joaquín Collar, pilot.
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