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8 fatalities

Aircraft Shot Down Over Nicaragua

Jinotega, NicaraguaFlight

On August 27, 1984, a Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) was involved in an aviation accident near Jinotega, Nicaragua in flight. 8 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Shot down by a surface-to-air missile. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 2 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

An aircraft conducting a survey flight over Nicaragua was shot down by a surface-to-air missile, resulting in the deaths of all eight occupants on board.

Incident Overview An aircraft departed from Catacamas-El Aguacate Airport to conduct a survey flight over Nicaragua. During the operation, the aircraft was flying at a low altitude when it was targeted by a surface-to-air missile (SAM-7). The missile was fired by soldiers from the Sandinista Popular Army. The impact caused the aircraft to crash, resulting in the deaths of all eight occupants on board. ## Official Findings The official investigation determined that the probable cause of the accident was the aircraft being shot down by a surface-to-air missile. No other contributing factors were identified in the source material.

Related events

Same operator

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 27 Aug 1984 Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) accident near Jinotega, Nicaragua?

An aircraft conducting a survey flight over Nicaragua was shot down by a surface-to-air missile, resulting in the deaths of all eight occupants on board.

Were there any fatalities in the 27 Aug 1984 Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 8 fatalities.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 27 Aug 1984 involved a Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3), at Jinotega, Nicaragua.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

Shot down by a surface-to-air missile.

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