What happened
During ground operations at Aguadilla Airport, a Douglas C-54 was being moved by the pilot from one parking position to another. While the aircraft was traveling along a taxiway, it experienced a sudden failure in its hydraulic systems. This mechanical issue resulted in the pilot losing control of the aircraft.
As the loss of control occurred, the C-54 struck a stationary Lockheed L-1049H Super Constellation, which was operated by Aerolineas Mundo (AMSA) and carried the registration HI-542CT. Following the impact, the moving aircraft continued its path until it eventually stopped in a nearby ditch.
There were no injuries reported for the pilot, who was the only person on board the aircraft at the time. However, the collision resulted in both aircraft being declared a total loss due to damage sustained during the incident.
Findings
- The primary factor leading to the collision was a hydraulic system failure while the aircraft was taxiing.