No fatalities

Incident Involving Aircraft Attacked Over El Poy (FAS101)

San Salvador-Ilopango, SalvadorLanding (descent or approach)

On July 15, 1969, a Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) (registration FAS101) operated by Salvadorian Air Force - Fuerza Aérea Salvadoreña was involved in an aviation accident near San Salvador-Ilopango, Salvador during landing or approach. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Shot down by enemy fire. 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

An aircraft under attack by a Honduran Air Force F4U-4 Corsair over El Poy returned to San Salvador-Ilopango Airport. It lost control on landing, came to rest off the runway, and was written off with no casualties.

Incident Overview

During a flight passing over the El Poy region, an aircraft came under fire from a military interceptor. The attacking aircraft was identified as an F4U-4 Corsair operated by the Honduran Air Force. Despite sustaining damage from the hostile engagement, the crew maintained control of the aircraft long enough to initiate a return to the nearest suitable airfield.

Landing and Aftermath

The crew successfully navigated the damaged plane back to San Salvador-Ilopango Airport. However, upon touchdown, the aircraft experienced a loss of control. It veered off the active runway and came to rest in the adjacent area. The incident resulted in no injuries or fatalities among those on board. Following the event, the aircraft was assessed as beyond economical repair and was officially written off.

Probable cause

Shot down by enemy fire