6 fatalities

1974-10-03: Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) — Guatemalan Air Force - Fuerza Aérea Guatemalteca — Guatemala City-La Aurora, Guatemala

Guatemala City-La Aurora, GuatemalaTakeoff (climb)

On October 3, 1974, a Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) operated by Guatemalan Air Force - Fuerza Aérea Guatemalteca was involved in an aviation accident near Guatemala City-La Aurora, Guatemala during takeoff. 6 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The aircraft experienced engine failure shortly after takeoff, leading to a loss of control and subsequent crash. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 6 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 1781231068Data APIEditorial standards

A humanitarian flight departing Guatemala for Honduras crashed shortly after takeoff, resulting in the deaths of all six people on board.

What happened

A flight operating out of Guatemala City-La Aurora Airport crashed during its initial climb phase. The aircraft was performing a humanitarian mission, transporting supplies intended for those affected by Hurricane Fifi to Honduras.

Shortly after departing the airport, the crew experienced significant mechanical issues involving the engines. This loss of power led to the aircraft crashing approximately 14 km away from the departure airfield. There were no survivors of the impact; all six fatalities occurred among the occupants on board.

Findings

The crash was precipitated by engine problems encountered during the early stages of the flight.

Probable cause

The aircraft experienced engine failure shortly after takeoff, leading to a loss of control and subsequent crash.