Crash of a Douglas C-47A-30-DK in Nuevo Ocotepeque

Date & Time: Dec 17, 1955
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
XH-SAG
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
13800/25245
YOM:
1944
Location:
Nuevo Ocotepeque
Ocotepeque
Country:
Honduras
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances. No casualties.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-30-DK in San Andrés: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 8, 1953 at 1316 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
XH-TAR
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
San Pedro Sula – San Andrés
MSN:
13817/25262
YOM:
1944
Location:
San Andrés
Lempira
Country:
Honduras
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The flight which departed from San Pedro Sula Airport on an extra flight with cargo for the San Andrés Mine, took off at 1242LT. The load was properly distributed with the centre of gravity on take-off, within the authorized limits. At 1316LT, following the first and only attempt to land at San Andrés Aerodrome, the aircraft crashed into a nearby mountain approximately 5 kilometers from the aerodrome. Fire broke out on impact and the aircraft and cargo were completely destroyed. The three crew, who were the only parsons on board, were killed.
Probable cause:
Failure of the right engine when the pilot wished to obtain maximum power from both engines after a missed landing.
Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed C-37 Electra in Honduras

Date & Time: Jan 15, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed C-36 Electra
Operator:
Registration:
XH-TAA
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
MSN:
1104
YOM:
1937
Location:
Honduras
All Honduras
Country:
Honduras
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances somewhere in Honduras. The accident occurred in January 1947 (exact date unknown).

Crash of a Lockheed 10E Electra in Yoro: 7 killed

Date & Time: Oct 17, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 10 Electra
Operator:
Registration:
XH-TAB
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
La Ceiba – Tegucigalpa
MSN:
1133
Location:
Yoro
Yoro
Country:
Honduras
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
While cruising in poor weather conditions, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed in a field near Yoro. All seven occupants were killed.

Crash of a Ford 5 in Tegucigalpa: 16 killed

Date & Time: Nov 29, 1944 at 1500 LT
Type of aircraft:
Ford 5
Operator:
Registration:
XH-TAN
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Tegucigalpa – San Pedro Sula
YOM:
1935
Location:
Tegucigalpa
Francisco Morazán
Country:
Honduras
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
16
Circumstances:
Shortly after lift off, while in initial climb, the right wing failed. The aircraft went out of control and crashed in a huge explosion. All 16 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It appears the loss of the right wing was caused by a structural failure due to excessive vibrations accumulated during operations on difficult and rough terrain.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-2 Coronado off Puerto Castilla: 10 killed

Date & Time: Oct 19, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY-2 Coronado
Operator:
Registration:
7147
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Location:
Puerto Castilla
Colón
Country:
Honduras
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
For unknown reason, the captain was forced to ditch the aircraft off Puerto Castilla. On landing, the seaplane broke in two and sank. A crew member was rescued while all others were killed.

Crash of a Curtiss CT-32 Condor II near La Masica: 5 killed

Date & Time: Feb 27, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss T-32 Condor II
Operator:
Registration:
7
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
La Ceiba – Tegucigalpa
MSN:
35
YOM:
1934
Location:
La Masica
Atlántida
Country:
Honduras
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
While on a flight from La Ceiba to Tegucigalpa, the airplane impacted the slope of a mountain located near La Masica, 29 km southwest of La Ceiba. As the airplane failed to arrive at destination, SAR operations were initiated but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the airplane nor the crew was found. The wreckage was spotted in March 1999 near the La Masica Pass.

Crash of a Ford 5 near Jutiapa

Date & Time: Nov 9, 1935
Type of aircraft:
Ford 5
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
Jutiapa
Atlántida
Country:
Honduras
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The three engine airplane was descending to La Ceiba when the crew encountered an unexpected situation and was forced to attempt an emergency landing. The airplane crash landed in Jutiapa, some 30 km east of La Ceiba, bursting into flames. All 14 occupants were rescued, among them seven were injured. The aircraft was destroyed by fire.

Crash of a Ford 4 in Tegucigalpa

Date & Time: Mar 5, 1934
Type of aircraft:
Ford 4
Operator:
Morgan Air Lines
Registration:
NC7120
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
4-AT-034
YOM:
1928
Location:
Tegucigalpa-Toncontin
Francisco Morazán
Country:
Honduras
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Tegucigalpa-Toncontin Airport, while in initial climb, the three engine airplane collided with power lines, stalled and crashed in a ravine located about 300 metres past the runway end. An Italian passenger tried to escape and jumped out the cabin but fall in the ravine with his kid in his arms. The father was killed and his kid was injured. All 10 other occupants escaped uninjured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. It is believed that the takeoff was initiated with a tailwind component and the left main wheel or the left wing impacted an electric power line during initial climb. Some debris such as an engine (third image) were found 83 years later by a depth of 65 feet.
Crew:
Eugene 'Smokey' Rhoads, pilot,
Mr. Holmberg, mechanic.

Source and photos via Amado Aguiluz Ferrari, Coronel José Alfredo San Martín and Carlos Rosa Mejía.
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