Paraguay | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

On final approach to Asunción-Silvio Pettirossi Airport, the crew encountered marginal weather conditions with limited visibility. The four engine aircraft was too low, hit trees and struck the ground. On impact, the undercarriage were sheared off and the airplane slid for several yards before coming to rest in a wooded area. A crew member and a passenger were killed while all 48 other occupants were evacuated, some of them wounded. The aircraft was written off.

Probable cause:

The crew led the aircraft pass below the glide in marginal weather conditions and continued the approach at an insufficient altitude, against published procedures.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina in Asunción: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 21, 1957

Type of aircraft:

Consolidated PBY Catalina

Operator:

Registration:

ZP-CBB

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Demonstration

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Asunción - Asunción

MSN:

1608

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Crashed into the Río Paraguay in Asunción while making a demonstration flight. Two crewmen were killed while three others were rescued.

Crash of a Lockheed L-049 Constellation in Asunción: 16 killed

Date & Time: Jun 16, 1955 at 0115 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed L-049 Constellation

Operator:

Registration:

PP-PDJ

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

London – Paris – Lisbon – Dakar – Recife – Rio de Janeiro – São Paulo – Asunción – Buenos Aires

MSN:

2032

YOM:

1946

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Circumstances:

The aircraft was on a scheduled flight from London to Buenos Aires with stops at Paris, Lisbon, Dakar, Recife, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Asunción, carrying 14 passengers and 10 crew. At 0105LT the Constellation called the Asunción control tower who cleared the flight to land on Runway 02 and requested the aircraft to call when on final approach. The last contact with the flight was made at 0115LT. From that time on a control tower employee reported the aircraft moved towards the south-southwest. He tried to sight it and noted that it headed towards the city, made a turn to the left and appeared to initiate its final straight-in approach. When sufficient time for a landing had elapsed the employee called attention to the lack of communication between the aircraft and the control tower. He continued to look out to the south where the aircraft would have appeared and saw a sudden burst of flame near the Paraguay Aero Club, south of the airport. Five passengers and three crew members survived. The aircraft was completely destroyed by fire which broke out immediately after impact.

Probable cause:

The accident was due to a piloting error in making the approach circuit on instruments. An error in timing resulted in the final approach being initiated at too great a distance from the airport. Proof of this was provided by the fact
that the landing gear was found extended, the flaps down, the mixture control set at 'rich', all of which indicated that the aircraft was in the ready to land condition.

Final Report:

Crash of a Stinson SR-10 Reliant in Asunción: 6 killed

Date & Time: Nov 9, 1949

Type of aircraft:

Stinson SR-10 Reliant

Operator:

Registration:

ZP-CA?

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

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Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Asunción Airport runway 20, while in initial climb, the aircraft stalled and crashed in Campo Grande, south of the airfield. All six occupants were killed. They were performing a flight to the north province of Chaco. The type of aircraft remains unconfirmed and the registration is unknown. At this time, LATN was operating Beech C-45, Consolidated Fleet, Caproni Ca-309, Breda Ba.44, Beech AT-7, Travel Air 6000 and later Noorduyn Norseman.

Crash of a Beechcraft AT-7 Kansan near Quyquyhó: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jun 19, 1947 at 1820 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft AT-7 Navigator

Operator:

Registration:

ZP-CBF

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Government

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

4114

YOM:

1942

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Circumstances:

The twin engine aircraft left Asunción Airport at 1750LT with two officers and two pilots on board. About thirty minutes into the flight, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with thunderstorm activity. The aircraft went out of control and crashed in an uninhabited area located near Quyquyhó. The pilot was killed and his body was found in the wreckage. However, no trace of the three other occupants was found. It is believed that they may have abandon the aircraft and bail out, but as their bodies were never found, they were considered as deceased.

Crash of a Potez 25 in Altos: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 7, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Potez 25

Operator:

Registration:

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Asunción – San Bernardino

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The single engine aircraft was on its way from Asunción to San Bernardino with two passengers and a pilot on board. While approaching the destination, the pilot encountered poor visibility due to fog and failed to realize his altitude was too low when the airplane impacted the ground and crashed in an open field located in Altos, about 10 km north of San Bernardino. The wreckage was spotted few hours later by the crew of a Brazilian Air Force's Waco. All three occupants were killed, among them General José Félix Estigarribia, President of the Republic of Paraguay and his wife who were travelling to their private house located on the shore of Lake Ypacaraí.
Crew:
Maj Carmelo Peralta, pilot.
Passengers:
General José Félix Estigarribia,
Mrs. Julia Miranda Cueto.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Potez 25 in El Carmen

Date & Time: Dec 11, 1934

Type of aircraft:

Potez 25

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In unclear circumstances, the crew was forced to attempt an emergency landing. The airplane came to rest in an open field and was damaged beyond repair. Both crew members evacuated safely.