Panama | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

While on a flight from Albrook Airport, the twin engine airplane crashed in unknown circumstances 10 km northeast of El Valle. Four crew members were killed and three others were injured.

Crash of a Douglas B-18 Bolo in Gatún Lake

Date & Time: Mar 14, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Douglas B-18 Bolo

Operator:

Registration:

36-307

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

MSN:

1695

YOM:

1936

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

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Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

For unknown reasons, the crew was forced to ditch the airplane into Gatún Lake. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Grumman OA-9 Goose in Río Hato

Date & Time: Jul 31, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Grumman G-21A Goose

Operator:

Registration:

38-571

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

1037

YOM:

1939

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

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Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

An engine failed in flight, forcing the pilot Thomas C. Darcy to attempt an emergency landing. The float plane crashed near Río Hato and was damaged beyond repair. There were no casualties.

Probable cause:

Engine failure in flight.

Crash of a Douglas B-18 Bolo near San Carlos

Date & Time: Jul 31, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Douglas B-18 Bolo

Operator:

Registration:

36-319

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

1707

YOM:

1936

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

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Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew encountered an unexpected situation and was forced to abandon the aircraft and bailed out. The aircraft entered a dive and crashed in a pasture located about five km west of San Carlos. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Grumman OA-9 Goose off Tigre Island

Date & Time: Dec 12, 1939

Type of aircraft:

Grumman G-21A Goose

Operator:

Registration:

38-572

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Ambulance

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Albrook - Tigre Island

MSN:

1038

YOM:

1939

Location:

Country:

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Circumstances:

The float plane departed Albrook Field in Panama City on a special flight to the island of Tigre, north of the country, carrying two doctors and three crew members. Upon landing on rough sea off Tigre Island, the airplane caved in sank in about 15 feet of water. All five occupants were slightly injured.
Crew:
1st Lt T. C. Dary, pilot,
1st Lt John R. Keely, pilot,
Cpl J. S. Kouba, flight engineer.
Passengers:
Cpt E. Griffis,
Cpt E. F. Austin.

Crash of a Bellanca CH-400 Skyrocket in Panama City

Date & Time: Sep 17, 1938

Type of aircraft:

Bellanca CH-400 Skyrocket

Operator:

Transportes Aéreos Gelabert

Registration:

RX-15

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Location:

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Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

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Circumstances:

Crashed on take off. Occupant fate unknown.

Crash of a Martin B-10B in Panama City: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 11, 1938

Type of aircraft:

Martin B-10 (Model 139 & 166)

Operator:

Registration:

34-31

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

562

YOM:

1934

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The engine failed in flight, forcing the pilot to make an emergency landing. The aircraft crashed in Punta Paitilla, south of the city. Two crew members were seriously injured and the pilot was killed.

Probable cause:

Engine failure in flight.