Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 680 in Los Establos

Date & Time: Feb 8, 1977
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Grand Commander 680
Operator:
Registration:
N6287D
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
680-591-229
YOM:
1958
Location:
Los Establos
Granada
Country:
Nicaragua
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane suffered an engine failure in flight and the pilot was forced to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed in a cotton field located near Los Establos and came to rest. There were no casualties.
Probable cause:
Engine failure for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Grumman HU-16A Albatross off Puerto Cortés NAS: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 10, 1977 at 2245 LT
Type of aircraft:
Grumman HU-16 (SA-16) Albatross
Operator:
Registration:
MP-301
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Location:
Puerto Cortés NAS
Baja California Sur
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Shortly after a night takeoff from Puerto Cortés NAS, while climbing, the seaplane aircraft lost height and crashed into the sea. Five crew members were rescued while three others were killed.

Crash of a Beechcraft D18S in Huaynamota: 8 killed

Date & Time: Nov 19, 1976 at 1730 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft D18
Operator:
Servicios Aéreos Cora
Registration:
XA-POP
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Huaynamota – Tepic
MSN:
A-28
YOM:
1945
Location:
Huaynamota
Nayarit
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Huaynamota, an engine failed. The pilot elected to return when control was lost. The aircraft crashed and was destroyed and all eight occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure for undetermined reasons.

Crash of a Lockheed 18 LodeStar in Villa de Casas: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 18, 1976
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 18 LodeStar
Operator:
Depositor Canales
Registration:
N519DW
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
2547
YOM:
1943
Location:
Villa de Casas
Tamaulipas
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances, killing both occupants.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3 off Willemstad: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 5, 1976
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
HP-671
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Willemstad - Port-au-Prince
MSN:
43073
YOM:
1946
Location:
Willemstad-Hato
Dutch Antilles
Country:
Dutch Antilles
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Willemstad-Hato Airport, while climbing, the airplane nosed down and crashed into the sea. Both crew members were killed.

Crash of a Beechcraft A100 King Air near San Luis Potosí: 5 killed

Date & Time: Oct 13, 1976
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft 100 King Air
Operator:
Registration:
XB-NUV
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
B-128
YOM:
1972
Location:
San Luis Potosí
San Luis Potosí
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
En route, the twin engine airplane went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in an uninhabited area located about 50 km northwest of San Luis Potosí. All five occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the loss of control occurred while the aircraft was flying in thunderstorm activity.

Crash of a Douglas DC-8-43 off Bridgetown: 73 killed

Date & Time: Oct 6, 1976 at 1724 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-8
Operator:
Registration:
CU-T1201
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Bridgetown - Kingston - Havana
MSN:
45611/127
YOM:
1960
Flight number:
CU455
Location:
Bridgetown-Grantley Adams
All Barbados
Country:
Barbados
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
25
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
48
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
73
Circumstances:
The four engine airplane departed Bridgetown-Grantley Adams Airport at 1715LT on a schedule flight to Havana via Kingston, Jamaica. Nine minutes later, the captain declared an emergency and informed ATC about an explosion on board. He was cleared to return for an emergency landing when shortly later, the airplane entered a right turn, lost height and plunged into the sea about 8 km offshore. The airplane disintegrated on impact and all 73 occupants were killed, among them 24 members of the Cuban National Fencing Team.
Probable cause:
It was determined that an explosive device has been placed on board the aircraft, at the rear part of the cabin, and that exploded during initial climb, causing severe damages to control systems. The terrorist act was claimed by the Coordination of United Revolutionary Organizations, an anti-Castro organization, with Luis Posada Carriles at his head.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-15-CU Commando off Oranjestad: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 24, 1976
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
HK-1282
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Oranjestad - Barranquilla
MSN:
33345
YOM:
1945
Location:
Oranjestad
Dutch Antilles
Country:
Dutch Antilles
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from Oranjestad-Reina Beatrix Airport, while climbing, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea. SAR operations were initiated but eventually suspended after few days as no trace of the aircraft nor both crew members was found.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-3 Otter in La Piragua: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 7, 1976
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-3 Otter
Operator:
Registration:
1011
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
La Piragua - Managua
MSN:
121
YOM:
1956
Location:
La Piragua
Jinotega
Country:
Nicaragua
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from La Piragua, the single engine airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in a wooded area. A passenger was killed while eight other occupants were injured. The aircraft was recovered in February 1979 but eventually considered as damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Douglas DC-9-15 in León

Date & Time: Sep 2, 1976 at 0730 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-9
Operator:
Registration:
XA-SOF
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Mexico City - León
MSN:
47124/254
YOM:
1968
Flight number:
AM152
Location:
León
Guanajuato
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
20
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After landing at León-Guanajuato del Bajio Airport, the airplane was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overran and came to rest. All 24 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
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