Crash of a Douglas DC-8-43 in Havana

Date & Time: Mar 18, 1976
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-8
Operator:
Registration:
CU-T1200
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Montreal - Havana
MSN:
45638/156
YOM:
1961
Flight number:
CU455
Location:
Havana-José Martí (Rancho Boyeros)
La Habana
Country:
Cuba
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
16
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
13
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While approaching Havana-José Martí-Rancho Boyeros Airport following an uneventful flight from Montreal, the four engine airplane collided with a Cubana Antonov AN-24B that was completing a local training flight with a crew of five on board. While the DC-8 was able to continue the approach and to land without further problems, the Antonov crashed, killing its entire crew.

Crash of an Antonov AN-24B in Havana: 5 killed

Date & Time: Mar 18, 1976
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-24
Operator:
Registration:
CU-T879
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Havana - Havana
MSN:
67302501
YOM:
1976
Location:
Havana-José Martí (Rancho Boyeros)
La Habana
Country:
Cuba
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew departed Havana-José Martí-Rancho Boyeros Airport on a local training mission. After it entered the approach path, the twin engine airplane collided with a Cubana Douglas DC-8-43. Registered CU-T1200, the DC-8 was approaching the same airport following an uneventful flight from Montreal with 13 passengers and a crew of 16 on board. Following the collision, the Antonov AN-24 went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in flames. All five occupants were killed. The crew of the DC-8 was able to continue the approach and to land without further problems. All 29 occupants escaped uninjured but the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair after the engine n°1 was torn off as well as a part of the left wing.

Crash of an Antonov AN-24V in Havana: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 14, 1973 at 1603 LT
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-24
Operator:
Registration:
CU-T876
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Nueva Gerona – Havana
MSN:
67302403
YOM:
1966
Flight number:
CU707
Location:
Havana-José Martí (Rancho Boyeros)
La Habana
Country:
Cuba
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
17
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
On final approach to Havana-José Martí-Rancho Boyeros Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions when the airplane struck the ground and crashed few km short of runway threshold. The aircraft was destroyed, three passengers were killed and 18 other occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident remains unclear but it was reported that the captain made some errors on approach while the copilot failed to use standard phraseology.

Crash of an Antonov AN-2 in Pinar del Río: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jan 10, 1967
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-2
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Spraying (Agricultural)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Pinar del Río - Pinar del Río
Location:
Pinar del Río
Pinar del Río
Country:
Cuba
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The aircraft was engaged in a local crop spraying mission, carrying three passengers and a crew of two. Shortly after takeoff from Pinar del Río-La Coloma Airport, while climbing in a limited visibility due to fog conditions, the single engine aircraft struck a water tower and crashed. All five occupants were killed.

Crash of an Antonov AN-24 in Camagüey

Date & Time: Aug 29, 1966
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-24
Operator:
Registration:
CU-T875
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Camagüey - Camagüey
MSN:
67302402
YOM:
1966
Location:
Camagüey
Camagüey
Country:
Cuba
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training flight at Camagüey Airport. While flying in the vicinity of the airport, the crew encountered an unexpected situation and it was decided to attempt an emergency landing in a field. On touchdown, the left wing was torn off and the airplane came to rest. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-18V in Cienfuegos: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 10, 1966
Type of aircraft:
Ilyushin II-18
Operator:
Registration:
CU-T830
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Havana – Santiago
MSN:
182 0049 05
YOM:
1962
Location:
Cienfuegos
Cienfuegos
Country:
Cuba
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
87
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
A multiple engine failure forced the crew to attempt an emergency landing near Cienfuegos. The aircraft crash landed in a field and came to rest. Two passengers were killed and two others were injured. All other 89 occupants escaped uninjured. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Multiple engine failure in flight.

Crash of an Antonov AN-2 in Nuevo Gerona: 6 killed

Date & Time: Mar 28, 1966
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-2
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Ambulance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Nueva Gerona - Havana
Location:
Nueva Gerona
Isla de la Juventud
Country:
Cuba
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Nueva Gerona Airport, the single engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances near a beach located about 6 km northeast of the city. The aircraft was destroyed and all six occupants were killed. The airplane was completing an ambulance flight to the capital city, carrying a child who should be transferred to hospital after being victim of a criminal act. The name of the operator and the registration remains unknown.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-1P near Jaruco: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jun 19, 1965
Type of aircraft:
Ilyushin II-14
Operator:
Registration:
CU-T824
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
Jaruco
Mayabeque
Country:
Cuba
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
While completing a combined exercise with the Cuban Army, the airplane was mistakenly shot down by a surface-to-air S-75 Dvina missile. Out of control, the airplane dove into the ground and crashed in a field near Jaruco. All five crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Mistakenly shot down by Cuban Forces.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 in San Antonio de los Baños: 12 killed

Date & Time: Dec 19, 1963 at 0500 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
San Antonio de los Baños
Artemisa
Country:
Cuba
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
On a night approach to San Antonio de los Baños Airport, the airplane was mistakenly shot down by Cuban soldiers and crashed, killing all 12 occupants, 8 Soviet soldiers and 4 Cuban crew.
Probable cause:
Shot down.

Crash of a Boeing C-135B-BN Stratolifter in Guantánamo Bay: 7 killed

Date & Time: Oct 23, 1962
Type of aircraft:
Boeing C-135 Stratolifter
Operator:
Registration:
62-4136
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
McGuire - Guantánamo Bay
MSN:
18476
YOM:
3
Location:
Guantánamo Bay NAS
Guantánamo
Country:
Cuba
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Aircraft flight hours:
150
Circumstances:
On final approach to Guantánamo Bay NAS, the aircraft was too low. One of the wing struck the ground 1,000 feet short of runway 09 threshold. Out of control, the aircraft crashed in flames, killing all seven crew members.
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