Crash of a Swearingen SA226TC Metro II in Bocas del Toro

Date & Time: May 10, 2000 at 1009 LT
Type of aircraft:
Swearingen SA226 Metro II
Operator:
Registration:
HP-1364MAM
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
TC-324
YOM:
1980
Location:
Bocas del Toro
Bocas del Toro
Country:
Panama
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Upon landing at Bocas del Toro, in unclear circumstances, the aircraft went out of control and veered off runway. It lost its undercarriage and came to rest in a sugarcane field. All eight occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 in Carreto: 10 killed

Date & Time: Mar 17, 2000 at 0930 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter
Operator:
Registration:
HP-1267APP
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Panama City - Puerto Obaldía
MSN:
624
YOM:
1979
Location:
Carreto
Guna Yala
Country:
Panama
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
While descending at an altitude of 7,500 feet in relative good weather conditions, the crew informed ATC about their position when contact was lost. The wreckage was found five days later at the altitude of 762 metres on the slope of a mountain (850 metres high) located near Carreto, about 22 km northwest pf Puerto Obaldía Airport. All 10 occupants were killed. The crew was descending under VFR mode when the accident occurred for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A-6 Islander in Rio Sidra: 10 killed

Date & Time: Dec 31, 1997 at 0745 LT
Type of aircraft:
Britten-Norman Islander
Operator:
Registration:
HP-986PS
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Panama City – Rio Sidra
MSN:
178
YOM:
1970
Location:
Rio Sidra
Guna Yala
Country:
Panama
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Panama City-Marcos A. Gelabert Airport at 0643LT on a flight to Rio Sidra, carrying nine passengers and one pilot. On approach to Rio Sidra, the pilot encountered poor visibility due to foggy conditions. On final, the aircraft struck the ground 6,5 km short of runway and crashed 62 minutes after its departure. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 10 occupants were killed, among them four US citizens.

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A Islander near Panama City

Date & Time: Aug 15, 1996 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Britten-Norman Islander
Operator:
Aerolineas Nacionales - ANSA Panama
Registration:
HP-839KN
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
44
YOM:
1968
Location:
Panama City
Panamá
Country:
Panama
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 near Panama City Airport. There were no casualties. The accident occurred somewhere in August 1996 (exact date unknown).

Crash of an Embraer EMB-110P1 Bandeirante near Colón: 21 killed

Date & Time: Jul 19, 1994 at 1830 LT
Type of aircraft:
Embraer EMB-110 Bandeirante
Operator:
Alas Chiricanas
Registration:
HP-1202AC
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Colón – Panama City
MSN:
110-375
YOM:
1981
Flight number:
00901
Location:
Colón
Colón
Country:
Panama
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
18
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
21
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Colón-Enrique Adolfo Jiménez Airport in poor weather conditions (low pressure zone). During initial climb, the aircraft suffered an explosion and crashed 10 km from the airport. The crew did not send any distress call. The aircraft disintegrated and all 21 occupants were killed, among them 12 Jewish businessman.
Probable cause:
It was reported that metal fragment were recovered on all bodies and that the 'accident' was the result of an in-flight explosion caused by the presence of a bomb places on board by members of a terrorist group called 'Ansar Allah'.

Crash of a Boeing 737-112 in Panama City

Date & Time: Nov 19, 1993 at 1919 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 737-100
Operator:
Registration:
HP-873CMP
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Miami - Panama City
MSN:
19768
YOM:
1969
Flight number:
q
Location:
Panama City-Tocumen
Panamá
Country:
Panama
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
86
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Miami-Intl Airport, the crew started the descent to Panama City-Tocumen Airport. Actual weather conditions were poor with low clouds, rain falls and turbulences. On final, the aircraft was not properly aligned on runway 03R but the crew continued the approach. Too high on the glide, the aircraft landed 750 metres past the runway threshold and after a course of about 2,500 feet, it veered to the left and departed the runway. While contacting taxiway Hotel, the nose gear collapsed and the aircraft came to rest 450 metres further. All 92 occupants evacuated safely and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Wrong approach configuration on part of the crew who failed to initiate a go-around procedure while the aircraft was not properly aligned on runway 03R during an ILS approach. Poor crew coordination was a contributing factor.

Crash of a Boeing 737-204 near Tucutí: 47 killed

Date & Time: Jun 6, 1992 at 2100 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 737-200
Operator:
Registration:
HP-1205CMP
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Miami – Panama City – Cali
MSN:
22059
YOM:
1979
Flight number:
CM201
Location:
Tucutí
Darién
Country:
Panama
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
40
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
47
Aircraft flight hours:
45946
Aircraft flight cycles:
17845
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Panama City-Tocumen Airport runway 21L at 2036LT bound for Cali, Colombia. While cruising at FL250, the crew was informed about poor weather conditions 30-50 miles ahead. Shortly later, there was an intermittent failure of the main attitude indicator due to a short circuit. This was not noticed by the flight crew, who attempted to adjust the aircraft attitude based on the false information from the attitude indicator. They lost control of the aircraft which entered a steep descent and started to disintegrate at FL100, and impacting the ground 80° nose down. The wreckage was found in the jungle about 13 km southwest of Tucití. All 47 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The following findings were reported:
- Loss of control of the aircraft because the flight crew followed false information from an attitude indicator that operated intermittently.
- Lack of visible horizon during cruise flight due to night and approaching bad weather.
- Insufficient cross-checking between the primary and emergency (standby) attitude indicators to identify intermittent attitude errors and to select a reliable source of (correct) attitude information.
- Non-standard cabin configurations between aircraft in the fleet of the company, which required the crew to determine how to set the switches based on the aircraft was being operated at the time.
- Incomplete ground crew training simulator, as it did not present 'differences between aircraft' and 'crew resource management' in sufficient detail to give the crew knowledge to overcome intermittent attitude indicator errors and to maintain control of the aircraft.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 200 off Contadora Island: 20 killed

Date & Time: Apr 18, 1990
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter
Operator:
Registration:
N187SA
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Panama City – Contadora – San Miguel
MSN:
131
YOM:
1968
Location:
Contadora Island
Panamá
Country:
Panama
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
19
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
20
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Contadora Island Airport, while climbing, the aircraft collided with a flock of birds. Some birds struck the right engine that failed. The aircraft lost speed then rolled to the right and crashed in the sea some 1,500 meters offshore. Two passengers were rescued while 20 other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Failure of the right engine and subsequent loss of control during initial climb following a bird strike.

Crash of a Douglas DC-6BF on Mt Fábrega: 6 killed

Date & Time: May 24, 1988 at 0700 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-6
Operator:
Registration:
YN-CBE
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Panama City - Managua
MSN:
45175/832
YOM:
1957
Location:
Mt Fábrega
Bocas del Toro
Country:
Panama
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft departed Panama City-Tocumen Airport at 0549LT on a cargo flight to Managua, carrying a crew of six. At 0653LT, the last radio contact was recorded with the crew. While cruising in limited visibility, the aircraft struck the slope of Mt Fábrega (3,335 meters high) located in the west part of Panama, near the border with Costa Rica. As the aircraft failed to arrive at destination, SAR operations were initiated but eventually abandoned few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the six occupants was found. The wreckage was found by walkers on 19 August 1989 at the altitude of 2,800 meters, more than 500 meters below the summit.
Crew:
William Gross Robles,
Ricardo Tadeo Czarski,
Marvin José Arana,
Juan de Dios Morales,
Juan Francisco Pavón,
José Félix Chávez.

Crash of a Casa 212 Aviocar 200 in Panama: 16 killed

Date & Time: Jan 31, 1988
Type of aircraft:
Casa 212 Aviocar
Operator:
Registration:
FAP-215
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
237
YOM:
1982
Location:
Panama
All Panama
Country:
Panama
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
16
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Panama City-Tocumen on a flight to a remote airstrip located in the Darién Province near the border with Colombia. On board were two pilots and 14 passengers, civilians and military personnel. While flying over Darién Province, weather conditions deteriorated when the aircraft struck the slope of a mountain. As it failed to arrive at destination, SAR operations were initiated and the wreckage was found about two weeks later. All 16 occupants were killed.
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