Incident
While cruising in limited visibility, a four-engine airplane struck the slope of Mount de la Muerte, located approximately 54 kilometers southeast of San José, Costa Rica. The aircraft was en route from Tegucigalpa-Toncontin Airport to Howard Air Force Base in Panama City.
Search and Recovery
After the airplane failed to arrive at its destination, search and rescue operations were initiated. These operations were abandoned after a few days as no trace of the aircraft or its four crew members was found. The wreckage was eventually located on 16 May 1975 in an isolated and mountainous area.
Probable Cause
The official investigation stated that the accident was believed to be the consequence of a controlled flight into terrain.