Panamá

For unknown reasons, the four engine aircraft landed hard and bounced. It became airborne again and went out of control before crashing onto a hill. All four crew members were killed.

En route, one of the engine failed. The pilot reduced his altitude and ditched the aircraft some 22 km off Taboga Island. All four occupants were rescued while the aircraft sank and was lost.

Upon touchdown at Panama City-Tocumen Airport, the nose gear collapsed. The airplane slid on its nose for several dozen meters before coming to rest on runway. Both pilots escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Following an uneventful cargo flight from Miami-Intl Airport, the crew started the descent to Panama City-Tocumen Airport in rain falls. After touchdown on a wet runway, the airplane encountered difficulties to decelerate and was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran, lost its undercarriage and came to rest few dozen meters further. All four crew members evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Following a night takeoff from Panama City-Tocumen Airport, while climbing, the four engine airplane went out of control and crashed into the sea. The aircraft was destroyed and all four crew members were killed.

Crashed in unknown circumstances. Occupant's fate remains unknown.

Shortly after takeoff from Panama City-Tocumen Airport, while in initial climb, the four engine stalled and crashed in a huge explosion near the runway end. The aircraft was destroyed and all three crew members were killed.

Shortly after takeoff from Howard AFB, the airplane stalled and crashed, killing all nine crew members.

High over the Panama jungle one August afternoon flew a twin engine plane with seven people aboard. The six passengers had been surveying for a possible sea-level canal across the Darien Province of Panama. They were tired and very anxious to get back to Panama City. Then one engine sputtered and quit. They became alarmed but relaxed when they noticed the plane was holding altitude. A small jungle airfield was not far away. The passengers saw the airstrip and they felt sure there would be a safe landing. Soon the plane was past it and the passengers wanted to know what was going on. The pilot said, "I am going to fly to Panama City." The passengers begged him to land and he refused. The pilot noticing the concern of the passengers and wanting to get the plane back to Panama City for repairs, tried to start the dead engine. With all hopeful eyes fixed on the prop, it turned over a few times. Suddenly the other engine stopped. Down they went into the mangrove swamp. Later in the afternoon a report went out that a twin engine plane was missing. There were two radios on board with direct connection to the home office and an air traffic control tower. The weather was clear. No one heard any distress call. Pilots in other planes flew over jungle airfields in the area and did not see the missing plane. The search went on for five days when one pilot saw something shinning for a moment in the mangrove swamp. He circled around again, hoping to get another glimpse of whatever it was he saw. When he was over the spot, the pilot saw the missing plane hidden under the jungle trees. Within minutes, the U.S. Air Force flew a rescue party in by helicopter. The passengers were badly broken up and hungry, but still alive. After crashing, the pilot stepped out of the plane and sank up to his waist in the muddy swamp. He lived in the mud for three days until he died. The passengers were unable to help because of their broken bones and they feared the same fate. The pilot was trying to save the company money by flying the plane back to Panama City. If he landed at a jungle airfield, the cost of repairs would skyrocket. Men, tools, and parts would have to be flown to the plane.

Source : Robert L. Webb, Goose Creek, South Carolina

Few minutes after takeoff from Panama City-Tocumen Airport, while climbing, the airplane went out of control and crashed into the sea some 40 km offshore. The aircraft was destroyed and all 7 occupants were killed.