No fatalities

Aircraft ditched in Rio Guayas after engine fire following takeoff from Guayaquil (C-204)

Guayaquil, EcuadorTakeoff (climb)

On January 22, 1947, a Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) (registration C-204) operated by TACA International Airlines - Transportes Aéreos Centro Americanos was involved in an aviation accident near Guayaquil, Ecuador during takeoff. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The accident resulted from an engine fire that occurred shortly after takeoff. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-08-05Data APIEditorial standards

Following an engine fire shortly after departure from Guayaquil, the crew ditched the aircraft into the Rio Guayas. All occupants were rescued safely, though the airframe was lost.

What happened

The incident occurred immediately after the aircraft departed Guayaquil Airport. During the initial climb phase, a fire broke out in the left engine. The flight crew initially attempted to return to the departure aerodrome; however, the captain determined that a safe landing was not feasible due to the severity of the situation.

Consequently, the pilot executed an emergency ditching procedure, guiding the aircraft into the Rio Guayas near Santay Island. All individuals on board were successfully rescued from the water. The aircraft was declared a total loss following the impact with the river surface.

Probable cause

The accident resulted from an engine fire that occurred shortly after takeoff.