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4 fatalities

Accident Involving Flight 203 (HR-SAS)

Tegucigalpa, HondurasLanding (descent or approach)

On February 20, 1967, a Douglas DC-6 (registration HR-SAS) operated by SAHSA - Servicios Aéreos de Honduras SA was involved in an aviation accident near Tegucigalpa, Honduras during landing or approach. 4 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: According to the reports of the crew, the probable cause of the accident was the failure of the reverse pitch control mechanism. The Board was not able to confirm or deny this because the fire had obliterated all traces of any possible cause. 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 2026-06-12Data APIEditorial standards

Flight 203, a domestic flight from La Mesa to Toncontín, was destroyed by fire after a landing. Four passengers died and 51 occupants evacuated. The official probable cause was the failure of the reverse pitch control mechanism, though the fire prevented confirmation.

Flight Details and Initial Approach Flight 203 was a scheduled domestic flight operating from La Mesa Airport in the Cortis Department to Toncontín in Tegucigalpa, D.C. The aircraft carried three flight crew members, two stewardesses, and fifty passengers, with a gross take-off weight of 75,023 lbs. After a routine pre-flight check that revealed no abnormalities, the aircraft departed La Mesa at 0815 hours. The estimated flight time was 32 minutes, with an en-route altitude of 7,500 ft. After 23 minutes of flight, the aircraft contacted Toncontín control tower over “El Rancho” and requested authorization to use frequency 118.1 Mc/s. The tower acknowledged the request and cleared the aircraft to enter the circuit for a landing on runway 01, with calm winds. The crew then requested to use runway 19, but the tower refused due to traffic on runway 01 and several aircraft waiting to land.

Probable cause

According to the reports of the crew, the probable cause of the accident was the failure of the reverse pitch control mechanism. The Board was not able to confirm or deny this because the fire had obliterated all traces of any possible cause.

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Same operator

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