Crash of a Bellanca C-27C Airbus near San Felíx

Date & Time: Aug 3, 1937
Type of aircraft:
Bellanca P-200 Airbus (C-27A)
Operator:
Registration:
33-27
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Río Hato – David
MSN:
718
YOM:
1933
Location:
San Felíx
Chiriquí
Country:
Panama
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route from Río Hato to David, the crew encountered an unexpected situation and decided to abandon the aircraft and bailed out. The aircraft crashed 25 km northwest of San Felíx and was destroyed. All six crew members were uninjured.

Crash of a Sikorsky S-43 off Cristóbal: 14 killed

Date & Time: Aug 2, 1937 at 1938 LT
Type of aircraft:
Sikorsky S-43
Operator:
Registration:
NC15065
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Lima – Guayaquil – Tumaco – Cali – Cristóbal – Panama City
MSN:
4305
YOM:
1936
Location:
Colón
Colón
Country:
Panama
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
14
Captain / Total hours on type:
991.00
Circumstances:
While descending to Cristóbal-France Field (Colón) at an altitude of some 2,000 feet, the pilot informed ATC that he was approaching the city via the Bahía Limón Bay. In limited visibility due to rain falls, the float plane named 'Santa Maria' went out of control and crashed into the sea few km offshore. Debris were found the following floating on water and all 14 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The Board is conclusively of the opinion that the accident was caused by the NC15065 striking the water while moving less then 90 miles per hour, tearing the ship to pieces, causing the death of all aboard and that a fire resulted from the impact with the water. The Board is convinced that at the time of the collision the plane had a minimum of 80 gallons of gas which would have burned on the water a sufficient length of time to cause all burns or scorches found one any recovered wreckage. The specific contributing cause of this aircraft colliding with the water is beyond the knowledge of man. However, there must have been a specific contributing cause or causes, and the Board is of the opinion that the most probable contributing cause is one of the following and in the order named:
- Failure of one or both engines due to faulty gasoline system, occurring during the spiraling down mentioned in the pilot's last radio message.
- The encountering of a sudden severe rain, as altitude was being lost by the plane in the spiraling descent, resulting in the blanking out of all visual contact.

Crash of a Martin B-10B in Bocas del Toro

Date & Time: Jun 30, 1936
Type of aircraft:
Martin B-10 (Model 139 & 166)
Operator:
Registration:
34-57
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
588
YOM:
1934
Location:
Bocas del Toro
Bocas del Toro
Country:
Panama
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane suffered a structural failure in flight and a subsequent fire, forcing the pilot to abandon the aircraft and to bail out. The pilot survived and the aircraft dove into the ground and was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Structural failure in flight.

Crash of a Keystone B-6 near Penonomé: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 12, 1936
Type of aircraft:
Keystone LB-6
Operator:
Registration:
30-351
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
Penonomé
Coclé
Country:
Panama
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
En route, an unexpected situation forced all five crewmen to abandon the aircraft and to bail out. Out of control, the airplane entered a dive and crashed in a prairie located some 24 km northwest of Penonomé. Three crew members were uninjured while two others were killed as their parachute failed to open.

Crash of a Keystone B-3A off France Field: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 9, 1935
Type of aircraft:
Keystone LB-3
Operator:
Registration:
30-289
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Location:
Colón
Colón
Country:
Panama
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in the Caribbean Sea, some 24 km north of France Field (now Colón). Two crew members were rescued and three others were killed.

Crash of a Travel Air 6000A on Mt Trinidad: 8 killed

Date & Time: Sep 12, 1935
Type of aircraft:
Travel Air 6000
Operator:
Aerovias Nacionales
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Panama City – David
Location:
Mt Trinidad
Panamá
Country:
Panama
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
En route from Panama City to David, while cruising in marginal weather conditions, the airplane impacted the slope of Mt Trinidad located some 16 km north of Bejuco. The aircraft was destroyed and all eight occupants were killed, among them Robert Marstrand, pilot, and Juan Pino, Mayor of the city of David.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Douglas OA-4A Dolphin into Lake Gatún

Date & Time: May 31, 1934
Type of aircraft:
Douglas Dolphin
Operator:
Registration:
32-409
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
1134
YOM:
1932
Location:
Gatún Lake
Colón
Country:
Panama
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed into Lake Gatún following an in-flight structural failure. There were no casualties.
Probable cause:
Loss of control following an in-flight structural failure.

Crash of a Sikorsky PS-3 in David: 4 killed

Date & Time: Sep 16, 1931
Type of aircraft:
Sikorsky S-38
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
David - Belize City
Location:
David
Chiriquí
Country:
Panama
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from David, the airplane went out of control and crashed, bursting into flames. The radio navigator was seriously injured while three others were killed. Few hours later, the only survivor died from his injuries. The aircraft was en route to Belize City with a load of 600 pounds of bandages and medical supplies for the stricken Honduras section.
Crew:
Lt C. K. Langford +3.

Crash of a Sikorsky S-38B off Colón

Date & Time: Feb 7, 1931 at 1730 LT
Type of aircraft:
Sikorsky S-38
Operator:
Registration:
NC306N
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Talara – Colón
MSN:
414-04
YOM:
1929
Location:
Colón
Colón
Country:
Panama
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a mail flight from Talara, Peru, to France Field (Colón). Upon arrival, the seaplane crashed in unknown circumstances in the Limón Bay. All three occupants were injured.
Subscribe to Panama