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131 fatalities

Night Approach Accident at Tegucigalpa-Toncontin Airport (N88705)

Tegucigalpa-Toncontin, HondurasLanding (descent or approach)

On October 21, 1989, a Boeing 727-200 (registration N88705) operated by TAN Airlines - Transportes Aéreos Nacionales de Honduras was involved in an aviation accident near Tegucigalpa-Toncontin, Honduras during landing or approach. 131 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The crew failed to follow the approach procedures and initiated a premature descent, causing the aircraft to follow a wrong approach profile. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 11 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Source recordUpdated 2026-09-03Data APIEditorial standards
Boeing 727-200
Photo: Pete Macklin / CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Aircraft struck Cerro de Hula during a night approach to Tegucigalpa-Toncontin after a premature descent; 131 killed, 15 rescued.

Flight and Approach Profile After departing Managua without incident, the flight crew began a night descent to Tegucigalpa-Toncontin Airport. The standard approach to runway 01 required a three-step descent from an initial approach fix altitude of 7,500 feet. The crew instead began the descent early, at 11 nautical miles from the airport, using a constant descent profile. This deviation placed the aircraft below the intended glide path. At 4,000 feet, the aircraft impacted the slope of Cerro de Hula, which is 4,800 feet high and located 7.7 km short of runway 01. The aircraft disintegrated on impact. Fifteen people, including four crew members, were rescued, while 131 other occupants were killed.

Probable cause

The crew failed to follow the approach procedures and initiated a premature descent, causing the aircraft to follow a wrong approach profile.
Controlled flight into terrain

Related events

Same aircraft family

Same operator

More Boeing 727 safety records →

All Boeing 727-200 accidents →

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 21 Oct 1989 Boeing 727-200 accident near Tegucigalpa-Toncontin, Honduras?

Aircraft struck Cerro de Hula during a night approach to Tegucigalpa-Toncontin after a premature descent; 131 killed, 15 rescued.

Were there any fatalities in the 21 Oct 1989 Boeing 727-200 accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 131 fatalities.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 21 Oct 1989 involved a Boeing 727-200, registration N88705, operated by TAN Airlines - Transportes Aéreos Nacionales de Honduras, at Tegucigalpa-Toncontin, Honduras.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The crew failed to follow the approach procedures and initiated a premature descent, causing the aircraft to follow a wrong approach profile.

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