Incident Overview

Date: Wednesday 23 January 1957
Aircraft Type: Douglas R4D-5 (DC-3)
Owner/operator: L¡neas A‚reas de Nicaragua – LANICA
Registration Number: AN-AEC
Location: Ometepe Island – ÿ Nicaragua
Phase of Flight: Unknown
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 16 / Occupants: 16
Component Affected: Aircraft Control System (specifically, the left turn command and control)Aircraft Control System (specifically, the left turn command and control)
Category: Accident
A DC-3 aircraft crashed into the Concepcion Volcano near San Carlos, Managua, after experiencing a sudden and sharp left turn towards the volcano. The aircraft lost control and crashed, resulting in significant damage to the right wing and partial separation from the fuselage. Fire erupted, destroying the aircraft.A DC-3 aircraft crashed into the Concepcion Volcano near San Carlos, Managua, after experiencing a sudden and sharp left turn towards the volcano. The aircraft lost control and crashed, resulting in significant damage to the right wing and partial separation from the fuselage. Fire erupted, destroying the aircraft.

Description

The DC-3 was operating on the flight Managua – Bluefields – San Carlos – Managua. At 16:49 GMT the aircraft took off from San Carlos for the last leg of the flight. En route weather near the Concepcion Volcano was clear, with fog covering the top from 3200 feet. The aircraft was approaching the volcano at 2650 feet when it was seen to suddenly perform a sharp ascending left turn. Control was lost and the plane crashed into the volcano. On impact the right wing was flattened and folded back over one-third of its length and was partially separated from the fuselage. Fire erupted and destroyed the plane. PROBABLE CAUSE: “According to eyewitnesses, the aircraft made a left turn, i.e. towards the volcano, and there were indications of abnormal conditions when it banked sharply in descent then in rapid climb; this shows that some trouble arose in the operation of the controls, propellers or engines, which unexpectedly caused loss of control. It was impossible to ascertain the cause of this malfunctioning, owing to the condition of the total destruction of the aircraft after impact and fire.”

Primary Cause

Abnormal conditions in control, propellers, or engines caused by a left turn, leading to loss of control and subsequent crash.Abnormal conditions in control, propellers, or engines caused by a left turn, leading to loss of control and subsequent crash.

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