Incident Overview
Date: Tuesday 7 September 1976
Aircraft Type: de Havilland Canada U-1A Otter (DHC-3)
Owner/operator: Fuerza Area Nicaragua
Registration Number: 1011
Location: La Piragua –
ÿ Nicaragua
Phase of Flight: Landing
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 4
Component Affected: Otter 1011 and Otter 1015 aircraft.Otter 1011 and Otter 1015 aircraft.
Category: Accident
A twin-engine De Havilland Canada Otter aircraft (1011 and 1015) were on a patrol flight near La Piragua, where they landed on a short, rough airstrip. Otter 1011 crashed half-way down the airstrip, resulting in the death of one crewman. Otter 1015 was unable to land and chose an adjacent airfield, sustaining damage and injuries. A Sikorsky CH-34C helicopter (518) was dispatched to recover the crew members, which subsequently exploded shortly after takeoff from La Piragua, killing all 13 on board.A twin-engine De Havilland Canada Otter aircraft (1011 and 1015) were on a patrol flight near La Piragua, where they landed on a short, rough airstrip. Otter 1011 crashed half-way down the airstrip, resulting in the death of one crewman. Otter 1015 was unable to land and chose an adjacent airfield, sustaining damage and injuries. A Sikorsky CH-34C helicopter (518) was dispatched to recover the crew members, which subsequently exploded shortly after takeoff from La Piragua, killing all 13 on board.
Description
Two de Havilland Canada Otters of the Nicaraguan Air Force (1011 and 1015) were on a patrol flight and planned to land at a small, short and rough airstrip at La Piragua, where there was a radio station. The first Otter to land was 1011, which touched down hard. The aircraft crashed half way down the airstrip, killing one crewman. The second Otter, 1015, was unable to land and chose an unused airfield close by. On landing it sustained some damage and injuries to its crew. A Sikorsky CH-34C helicopter (518) was dispatched to the site to fly the crew members back to Managua. The helicopter exploded shortly after takeoff from La Piragua, killing all 13 on board. Otter 1015 was later recovered and repaired.
Source of Information
http://www.dhc-3archive.com/DHC-3_307.htmlhttp://www.dhc-3archive.com/DHC-3_307.htmlPrimary Cause
Mechanical failure during landing on the short airstrip.Mechanical failure during landing on the short airstrip.Share on:
