What happened
During a nighttime departure from Saint George's-Kindley Field Airport, an Estrella de Oriente four-engine aircraft experienced an aerodynamic stall during its initial climb. The aircraft subsequently descended into the ocean, impacting the water approximately 2.5 miles northeast of the runway.
In the aftermath of the impact, rescue operations successfully recovered one crew member and three passengers from the wreckage. However, the accident resulted in 37 fatalities among the remaining occupants on board.
Findings
Official investigations into the crash were unable to establish a definitive cause for the accident. Investigators did note that the aircraft entered a stall while climbing and struck the sea in a tail-first orientation.