Incident Overview
Date: Saturday 23 January 1988
Aircraft Type: Douglas DC-6
Owner/operator: Nicaraguan Contras
Location: 40 km E of San Carlos –
ÿ Nicaragua
Phase of Flight: Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.)
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 9 / Occupants: 10
Component Affected: Right wing engineRight wing engine
A DC-6 aircraft operated by rebel forces was shot down during a military supply drop. The aircraft completed 11 loads of weapons, food, ammunition, and clothing, weighing approximately 800 pounds each. A ground-fired missile struck one engine on the right wing, causing damage, but the plane continued to fly for 20 miles before crashing.A DC-6 aircraft operated by rebel forces was shot down during a military supply drop. The aircraft completed 11 loads of weapons, food, ammunition, and clothing, weighing approximately 800 pounds each. A ground-fired missile struck one engine on the right wing, causing damage, but the plane continued to fly for 20 miles before crashing.
Description
The DC-6, operated by Nicaraguan rebel forces, was dropping military supply and food when it was shot down by government forces. The aircraft had completed dropping 11 loads of weapons, food, ammunition and clothing, each weighing about 800 pounds. The first ground-fired missile struck one of the engines on the right hand wing but the plane continued flying for some 20 miles. It was then struck by a second missile and four minutes later crashed.
Source of Information
http://www.nytimes.com/1988/01/25/world/plane-supplying-contras-crashes-11-believed-killed-nicaragua-plane-struck.htmlhttp://www.nytimes.com/1988/01/25/world/plane-supplying-contras-crashes-11-believed-killed-nicaragua-plane-struck.htmlPrimary Cause
Ground-fired missile strike to one engine on the right wing.Ground-fired missile strike to one engine on the right wing.Share on:
