Tegucigalpa-Toncontin

Cessna 421B Golden Eagle II

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

San Pedro Sula - Tegucigalpa

MSN:

91 26 03

YOM:

1991

Flight number:

CAA731

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

15300

Copilot / Total flying hours:

4810

Aircraft flight hours:

5153

Circumstances:

The twin engine aircraft departed San Pedro Sula-Ramon Villeda Morales Airport at 0704LT on a 40-minute flight to Tegucigalpa, carrying 12 passengers and two pilots. After being cleared to descend to 9,000 feet for an approach to runway 20, the crew informed ATC he was initiating a go-around procedure for unknown reasons. Few minutes later, the aircraft was cleared for an approach to runway 02. On approach in marginal weather conditions in a full flaps down configuration, the aircraft stalled and crashed in a wooded area located 12 km from the airport. The aircraft was totally destroyed by impact forces and all 14 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

The following findings were identified:
1) Weather conditions existing at the time of the event, during the approach to the runway the aircraft was operated slightly above the stall speed and a major change in wind speed could cause a stall. The altitude at which the windshear occurred, and the reaction time of the pilot and the responsiveness of the aircraft determined whether the descent could be arrested in time to avoid an accident.
2) No published descent procedures were performed, possibly misinterpretation of Flight Instruments (altimeter, airspeed indicator).
3) During the descent to the VOR/DME for runway 20 and 02, the pilot in command (PIC) did not check his approach chart, and did not continually consult the first officer on the altitude and course.
4) There was no adequate communication between crew; deficient CRM (No approach briefing was made for any of the two approaches).
5) The aircraft was configured for landing with flaps fully down (flap 42) at a very long distance from the track without having it in sight. It is noteworthy that the aircraft will not respond to an adverse condition windshear as it appeared at that time with such a configuration. It should be noted that in both approaches it is mandatory to perform a 'circling' procedure.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 421B Golden Eagle II in Tegucigalpa: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 10, 2010 at 1405 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

TG-JYM

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Tegucigalpa – La Mesa

MSN:

421B-0403

YOM:

1973

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Three minutes after takeoff from Tegucigalpa-Toncontin Airport, while in initial climb, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed few km from the airport, bursting into flames. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all three occupants were killed.

Crash of an Airbus A320-233 in Tegucigalpa: 5 killed

Date & Time: May 30, 2008 at 0940 LT

Type of aircraft:

Airbus A320

Operator:

Registration:

EI-TAF

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

San Salvador – Tegucigalpa – Miami

MSN:

1374

YOM:

2000

Flight number:

TA390

Location:

Country:

Region:

Transportes Aéreos de El Salvador

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

118

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

11899

Captain / Total hours on type:

8514.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

1607

Copilot / Total hours on type:

250

Aircraft flight hours:

21957

Aircraft flight cycles:

9992

Circumstances:

A TACA Airlines Airbus A320, flight TA390, with Irish Registry EI-TAF, with 135 passengers and crew on board, overran at the end of the runway during landing at Tegucigalpa caused the deaths of three people on board and two on the ground. The government of Honduras delegated the conduct of investigation to the Salvadoran Civil Aviation Authorities, as provided for in Annex 13 to the Chicago Convention. In accordance with international agreements, France sent two investigators from the BEA (Bureau d'Enquêtes et d'Analyses), accompanied by five technical advisors from Airbus; United States sent two investigators from the NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board), accompanied by one advisor from FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) and one technical Advisor from IAE (International Aero Engine); and Ireland sent one investigator. Both flight recorders (CVR and DFDR) were recovered and taken to the NTSB in order to perform the read out. The following data result from the analysis done by the BEA and Airbus of the accident recorders, which have been processed within the NTSB facilities under the leadership of the in-charge Authorities. It is confirmed that the aircraft was dispatched without any deferred MEL item. Prior to landing, the wind information given by the ATC to the crew was 190°/10kt and ATC also confirmed that the runway was wet. The Captain was the Pilot Flying (PF). Landing configuration was established with Slats/Flaps fully extended, gear down, ground spoilers armed, autobrake selected to MED. The aircraft landing weight was 63.5t (max landing weight 64.5t), Vapp 137kt. The aircraft was cleared to land on runway 02 and landed with Autopilot and Flight Directors OFF, and autothrust engaged in managed speed mode. At time of touch down, IAS was 139kt and Ground Speed (GS) was 159kt (estimated tailwind was 12kt from DFDR data analysis). The aircraft landed on runway 02 (Runway 02 is 3297 feet high and has a displaced threshold of 213m). The Landing Distance Available (LDA) for runway 02 is of 1649m. The touch down occurred at approximately 400m from the runway 02 displaced threshold. Immediately after touchdown, the crew selected MAX REV, and both engine reversers and the Ground Spoilers (G/S) deployed normally. The nosewheel touch down occurred 7s after the Main Landing Gear (MLG) following PF inputs. The crew applied manual braking 4s after MLG touch down and commanded maximum pedal braking in 10s (14s after MLG touch down). At 70 knots Indicated Airspeed Speed (IAS), upon Pilot Non Flying (PNF) call-out, the PF selected IDLE REV. The remaining distance to the runway end was approximately 190m. The aircraft overran the runway at 54kt and dropped down the 20 m embankment sustaining severe damage on impact with the ground. The landing performance analysis confirms that the landing performances are consistent with runway condition and crew actions.

Probable cause:

Contributing factors:
- Wrong approach configuration,
- Excessive speed upon landing,
- The aircraft landed too far down the runway with a tailwind component,
- On approach, the crew failed to recalculate the aircraft weight for landing and the landing distance,
- The non precision approach was completed in poor weather conditions, which increased the cockpit crew workload,
- The absence of a stopping zone at the end of runway 02 contributed to the severity of the occurrence,
- The runway surface was wet and not equipped with a water drainage system, which reduced the braking coefficient.

Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo B in Tegucigalpa: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 16, 1998 at 0730 LT

Type of aircraft:

Piper PA-31-310 Navajo

Operator:

Registration:

YS-14C

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Positioning

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Guatemala City – Tegucigalpa

MSN:

31-7300940

YOM:

1973

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While approaching Tegucigalpa-Toncontin Airport runway 01 in IMC conditions, the aircraft descended too low and crashed 10 km short of runway at an altitude of 5,325 feet. The aircraft was destroyed and both occupants were killed. The minimum altitude for the approach at the crash site is 6,700 feet. After crossing the 5 DME fix, a flight can descend to 5,200 feet.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain after the crew continued the approach at an insufficient altitude until the aircraft impacted ground.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130H Hercules in Tegucigalpa: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 1, 1997

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed C-130 Hercules

Operator:

Registration:

88-4408

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Milwaukee – Tegucigalpa – Howard AFB

MSN:

5161

YOM:

1989

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft departed Milwaukee-General Billy Mitchell Airport on a flight to Howard AFB, Panama City, with an intermediate stop in Tegucigalpa, carrying 10 crew members and a load consisting of foods and electronics. At Tegucigalpa-Toncontin Airport, the aircraft landed 2,000 feet past the runway threshold in a 50° flaps down configuration. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, it overran and crashed on a road and a bridge, bursting into flames. Three crew members were killed and seven others were injured.

Crash of a Boeing 737-2H6 in Managua

Date & Time: Jul 18, 1993 at 1930 LT

Type of aircraft:

Boeing 737-200

Operator:

Registration:

N401SH

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Managua-Augusto Cesar Sandino-Las Mercedes

Schedule:

Tegucigalpa - Managua - San José

MSN:

20584

YOM:

1972

Flight number:

SH415

Location:

Managua City District

Country:

Nicaragua

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The approach to Managua-Augusto Cesar Sandino Airport was completed in poor weather conditions with limited visibility due to thunderstorm activity and heavy rain falls. On short final, the captain got distracted by lightning striking the ground to the right of the airplane. Then the aircraft landed nose first, causing it to be partially torn off. The aircraft bounced, veered off runway to the right and came to rest 45 metres to the right of the runway. All 94 occupants evacuated safely, except a crew member who was seriously injured.

Crash of a Boeing 737-2K6 in San José

Date & Time: Nov 17, 1991

Type of aircraft:

Boeing 737-200

Operator:

Registration:

EI-CBL

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Tegucigalpa-Managua-San José

MSN:

20957

YOM:

1974

Location:

San José-Juan Santamaría

Alajuela (Center-North)

Country:

Costa Rica

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

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.

Probable cause:

The following factors were reported:
- Poor approach planning,
- Lack of crew coordination,
- The captain failed to initiate a go-around procedure while the aircraft was unstable and not properly aligned,
- Wrong approach configuration,
- Lack of visibility due to poor weather conditions.

Crash of a Lockheed L-188CF Electra in Tegucigalpa: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 21, 1990

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed L-188 Electra

Operator:

Registration:

HR-TNL

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

San Pedro Sula - Tegucigalpa

MSN:

1134

YOM:

1960

Location:

Country:

Region: