Incident Overview
Date: Monday 3 October 1983
Aircraft Type: Douglas C-47 (DC-3)
Owner/operator: Unknown
Location: near Rio Blanco, Matagalpa –
ÿ Nicaragua
Phase of Flight: Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.)
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 3
Component Affected: Left hand engine of the Douglas C-47 transport plane.Left hand engine of the Douglas C-47 transport plane.
On October 26, 1983, a Douglas C-47 transport plane, registered to a U.S. aircraft, was involved in a military operation to supply a rebel group in Nicaragua. The aircraft flew at a low altitude near Wanaw s and dropped supplies. During maneuvering, a Sandinista Popular Army soldier fired a portable Strela-2M missile, which struck the left hand engine but did not explode. The cabin filled with smoke, necessitating a forced landing. The crew initially survived but the co-pilot died of his injuries.On October 26, 1983, a Douglas C-47 transport plane, registered to a U.S. aircraft, was involved in a military operation to supply a rebel group in Nicaragua. The aircraft flew at a low altitude near Wanaw s and dropped supplies. During maneuvering, a Sandinista Popular Army soldier fired a portable Strela-2M missile, which struck the left hand engine but did not explode. The cabin filled with smoke, necessitating a forced landing. The crew initially survived but the co-pilot died of his injuries.
Description
A U.S.-registered Douglas C-47 transport plane was engaged in a military operation to supply a right-wing rebel group that was fighting Nicaragua’s revolutionary Sandinista government. The aircraft flew at a low altitude in the area of Wanaw s to drop supplies. While manoeuvering in the area, a soldier of the Sandinista Popular Army fired a portable Strela-2M missile (also known as SA-7). The missile hit the left hand engine but did not explode. The cabin filled with smoke, forcing the pilot to carry out a forced landing. The crew initially survived but the co-pilot died of his injuries on 26 October 1983.
Source of Information
http://www.skywar.ru/contras.html, https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/312831883/, https://www.magazine.com.ni/reportaje/la-trampa-de-wanawas/http://www.skywar.ru/contras.html, https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/312831883/, https://www.magazine.com.ni/reportaje/la-trampa-de-wanawas/Primary Cause
A portable Strela-2M missile launch by a Sandinista Popular Army soldier.A portable Strela-2M missile launch by a Sandinista Popular Army soldier.Share on:
