FlightFinder
Check my flight
3 fatalities

Aircraft Collision with Terrain Near Tegucigalpa-Toncontin Airport (HR-TNL)

Tegucigalpa-Toncontin, HondurasLanding (descent or approach)

On March 21, 1990, a Lockheed L-188 Electra (registration HR-TNL) operated by TAN Airlines - Transportes Aéreos Nacionales de Honduras was involved in an aviation accident near Tegucigalpa-Toncontin, Honduras during landing or approach. 3 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The crew failed to realize the aircraft's altitude was too low during the approach in poor weather conditions, resulting in a collision with the south slope of Cerro de Hula. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 3 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Source recordUpdated 2026-09-03Data APIEditorial standards
Aircraft registered HR-TNL
Aircraft registered HR-TNL. Photo: Pete Macklin / CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

An aircraft struck the south slope of Cerro de Hula while approaching Tegucigalpa-Toncontin Airport in poor weather, resulting in the destruction of the aircraft and the deaths of all three crew members.

Incident Overview and Location Details During an approach to Tegucigalpa-Toncontin Airport, an aircraft collided with terrain under poor weather conditions. The impact occurred on the south slope of Cerro de Hula, a mountain with an elevation of 1,600 meters. The site of the collision was located 14 kilometers from the threshold of runway 01. The aircraft was destroyed in the accident, and all three crew members on board were killed. The investigation noted that the crew failed to recognize that the aircraft's altitude was too low during the approach phase, leading to the controlled flight into terrain event.

Probable cause

The crew failed to realize the aircraft's altitude was too low during the approach in poor weather conditions, resulting in a collision with the south slope of Cerro de Hula.
Controlled flight into terrain

Related events

Same operator

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 21 Mar 1990 Lockheed L-188 Electra accident near Tegucigalpa-Toncontin, Honduras?

An aircraft struck the south slope of Cerro de Hula while approaching Tegucigalpa-Toncontin Airport in poor weather, resulting in the destruction of the aircraft and the deaths of all three crew members.

Were there any fatalities in the 21 Mar 1990 Lockheed L-188 Electra accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 3 fatalities.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 21 Mar 1990 involved a Lockheed L-188 Electra, registration HR-TNL, operated by TAN Airlines - Transportes Aéreos Nacionales de Honduras, at Tegucigalpa-Toncontin, Honduras.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The crew failed to realize the aircraft's altitude was too low during the approach in poor weather conditions, resulting in a collision with the south slope of Cerro de Hula.

More accident analyses