Crash of a Basler BT-67 in El Jaguey

Date & Time: Jul 23, 2004 at 0930 LT
Type of aircraft:
Basler BT-67
Operator:
Registration:
FAS117
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
24509
YOM:
1944
Location:
El Jaguey
La Unión
Country:
Salvador
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
22
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After touchdown at El Jaguey Airstrip, the aircraft suffered a hydraulic failure and became uncontrollable. It veered off runway, lost its undercarriage and came to rest few dozen metres further. All 24 occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Basler BT-67 in Chilanga

Date & Time: Nov 9, 2000
Type of aircraft:
Basler BT-67
Operator:
Registration:
FAS119
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
6204
YOM:
1943
Location:
Chilanga
Morazán
Country:
Salvador
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After landing at Chilanga-Los Comandos Airport, the crew encountered technical problems with the brakes. The aircraft veered off runway and collided with trees. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Loss of control after touchdown due to technical problems with the brakes.

Crash of a Boeing 737-2H6 on Mt San Vicente: 65 killed

Date & Time: Aug 9, 1995 at 2014 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 737-200
Operator:
Registration:
N125GU
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Miami – Guatemala City – San Salvador – Managua – San José
MSN:
23849
YOM:
1987
Flight number:
GU901
Location:
Mt San Vicente (Chichontepec)
San Vicente
Country:
Salvador
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
58
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
65
Captain / Total flying hours:
9828
Copilot / Total flying hours:
4696
Aircraft flight hours:
16645
Aircraft flight cycles:
20323
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Guatemala City, the crew was cleared to start the descent to San Salvador-Comalapa Airport but encountered poor visibility due to the night and heavy rain falls. In thunderstorm activity, the crew was cleared to modify his route while descending to the airport. After being cleared to descend to 5,000 feet, the GPWS alarm sounded. The captain applied full power when the aircraft struck trees and crashed in a dense wooded area located on the Mt San Vicente (Chichontepec Volcano - 2,181 metres high), about 25 km northeast from runway 25 threshold. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 65 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The probable cause of the accident was the flight crew's lack of situational awareness in relation to the 7,159 foot obstruction, the flight crew's decision to descend below the MSA while deviating from a published transition or approach, and the ambiguity of position information between both the flight crew and the air traffic controller which resulted in the controller's issuance of an altitude assignment that did not provide terrain clearance. Contributing to the accident was the failure of the First Officer to direct his concern of reported positions to the Captain in a more direct and assertive manner and the failure of the controller to recognize the aircraft's reported position relative to obstructions and give appropriate instructions/warnings. An ineffective CRM program at Aviateca also contributed to the accident.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 501 Citation I/SP in San Salvador

Date & Time: Apr 24, 1995 at 1630 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 501 Citation I
Operator:
Registration:
N120ES
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
San Salvador - San Salvador
MSN:
501-0041
YOM:
1977
Location:
San Salvador-Monseñor Óscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdámez (Comalapa)
La Paz
Country:
Salvador
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training flight at San Salvador-Comalapa Airport. On approach to runway 25, the copilot informed the captain about a discrepancy between both altimeters. The crew elected to identify the problem and thus failed to focus his attention on the approach procedure. This caused the aircraft to lose altitude when it collided with trees located 2,500 feet short of runway and crashed on a road 1,200 feet short of runway. Both pilots escaped uninjured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Fairchild C-123K Provider near Metapán: 14 killed

Date & Time: Aug 27, 1992 at 0945 LT
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild C-123 Provider
Operator:
Registration:
FAS121
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Skydiving / Paratroopers
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
20192
YOM:
1955
Location:
Metapán
Santa Ana
Country:
Salvador
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
14
Circumstances:
While flying at low height, the aircraft suffered an engine failure. The crew lost control of the airplane that crashed in a wooded and hilly terrain, bursting into flames. All 4 crew members and 10 paratroopers were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 in Chalate: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 4, 1990
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
FAS124
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
Chalate
Chalatenango
Country:
Salvador
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
While in cruising altitude, the aircraft was hit by a SAM-14 missile. It entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in a field. All five occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a SAM-14 missile.

Crash of a Douglas DC-6BF in San Salvador

Date & Time: Jun 29, 1988
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-6
Operator:
Registration:
YS-05C
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
San Salvador - Miami
MSN:
45537
YOM:
1958
Location:
San Salvador-Monseñor Óscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdámez (Comalapa)
La Paz
Country:
Salvador
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Stalled and crashed shortly after takeoff from San Salvador-Comalapa Airport. The aircraft was destroyed and both pilots were injured.

Crash of a Douglas C-118A Liftmaster in San Salvador: 37 killed

Date & Time: May 1, 1986 at 0632 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-118 Liftmaster
Operator:
Registration:
FAS302
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
San Salvador - Panama
MSN:
44654
YOM:
1955
Location:
San Salvador-Ilopango
San Salvador
Country:
Salvador
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
33
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
37
Circumstances:
After takeoff from San Salvador-Ilopango Airport, while in initial climb, one of the four engine failed and caught fire. The airplane was unable to gain sufficient height and struck the slope of a mountain located about 3 km from the airport. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 37 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure and fire during initial climb for unknown reasons.

Ground explosion of a Fairchild C-123K Provider in El Obrajuelo

Date & Time: Mar 21, 1984
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild C-123 Provider
Operator:
Registration:
FAS120
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
San Salvador - El Obrajuelo
MSN:
20152
YOM:
1954
Location:
El Obrajuelo
San Miguel
Country:
Salvador
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
17
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After landing, the twin engine airplane rolled on a mine and exploded. It came to rest and was damaged beyond repair. All 20 occupants escaped with minor injuries.

Ground explosion of a Douglas DC-6BF in San Miguel: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 20, 1984
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-6
Operator:
Atlantida Linea Aérea Sudamericana - ALAS
Registration:
YS-37C
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
44255
YOM:
1954
Location:
San Miguel
San Miguel
Country:
Salvador
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
After touchdown at San Miguel Airport, the four engine airplane rolled onto a mine, exploded and came to rest. A passenger was killed and few others were injured. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
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