Tan-Sahsa Flight 414
Encyclopedia
Tan-Sahsa Flight 414 was a scheduled flight from Managua
(MGA), Nicaragua to Tegucigalpa
(TGU), Honduras.
In this hull loss accident, a Boeing 727-200 (c/n 19514/597) crashed into a hill near Toncontin International Airport
because of a bad landing procedure.
N88705 leased from Continental Airlines
on a scheduled flight from Augusto C. Sandino International Airport in Managua, Nicaragua to Toncontin International Airport
in Tegucigalpa, Honduras.
Tegucigalpa ATC cleared the flight for the VOR/DME approach to runway 01. Because of high terrain in the area, the approach uses a series of three step-downs from the initial approach fix of 7500 feet MSL. The crew began a continuous descent from about 7600 ft MSL at about 11 NM from the airport, rather than following the prescribed step-down procedure, which led to the accident site.
The aircraft’s descent profile was well below the published step-down course for the entire approach. The aircraft impacted a mountain known as Cerro de Hula at the 4800 ft MSL elevation, approximately 800 ft below the summit, 4.8 NM from the Tegucigalpa runway 01 threshold. At impact, the aircraft was in approach configuration.
While on the runway 01 VOR/DME approach, the aircraft struck a hill at 5000 feet shortly after leaving the standard procedure.
The crew may not have followed the prescribed approach procedure.
The plane broke into three parts. The first part (Cockpit, First Class), contained almost all of the survivors of the accident, due the close-to-stall, nose high configuration at impact.
Five months later another aircraft, a L-188 Electra operated by "Sahsa Carga" (HR-TNL), crashed in the same place with a similar situation, making it the third accident by Sahsa in six months.
Due to its bad safety history, Sahsa went into bankruptcy in the early 1990s.
Managua
Managua is the capital city of Nicaragua as well as the department and municipality by the same name. It is the largest city in Nicaragua in terms of population and geographic size. Located on the southwestern shore of Lake Xolotlán or Lake Managua, the city was declared the national capital in...
(MGA), Nicaragua to Tegucigalpa
Tegucigalpa
Tegucigalpa , and commonly referred as Tegus , is the capital of Honduras and seat of government of the Republic, along with its twin sister Comayagüela. Founded on September 29, 1578 by the Spanish, it became the country's capital on October 30, 1880 under President Marco Aurelio Soto...
(TGU), Honduras.
In this hull loss accident, a Boeing 727-200 (c/n 19514/597) crashed into a hill near Toncontin International Airport
Toncontín International Airport
Toncontín International Airport or Teniente Coronel Hernán Acosta Mejía Airport is a civil and military airport that serves Tegucigalpa, Honduras...
because of a bad landing procedure.
History
The aircraft was a TAN Boeing 727-200, aircraft registrationAircraft registration
An aircraft registration is a unique alphanumeric string that identifies a civil aircraft, in similar fashion to a licence plate on an automobile...
N88705 leased from Continental Airlines
Continental Airlines
Continental Airlines was a major American airline now merged with United Airlines. On May 3, 2010, Continental Airlines, Inc. and UAL, Inc. announced a merger via a stock swap, and on October 1, 2010, the merger closed and UAL changed its name to United Continental Holdings, Inc...
on a scheduled flight from Augusto C. Sandino International Airport in Managua, Nicaragua to Toncontin International Airport
Toncontín International Airport
Toncontín International Airport or Teniente Coronel Hernán Acosta Mejía Airport is a civil and military airport that serves Tegucigalpa, Honduras...
in Tegucigalpa, Honduras.
Tegucigalpa ATC cleared the flight for the VOR/DME approach to runway 01. Because of high terrain in the area, the approach uses a series of three step-downs from the initial approach fix of 7500 feet MSL. The crew began a continuous descent from about 7600 ft MSL at about 11 NM from the airport, rather than following the prescribed step-down procedure, which led to the accident site.
The aircraft’s descent profile was well below the published step-down course for the entire approach. The aircraft impacted a mountain known as Cerro de Hula at the 4800 ft MSL elevation, approximately 800 ft below the summit, 4.8 NM from the Tegucigalpa runway 01 threshold. At impact, the aircraft was in approach configuration.
While on the runway 01 VOR/DME approach, the aircraft struck a hill at 5000 feet shortly after leaving the standard procedure.
The crew may not have followed the prescribed approach procedure.
The plane broke into three parts. The first part (Cockpit, First Class), contained almost all of the survivors of the accident, due the close-to-stall, nose high configuration at impact.
Aftermath
After the accident, Captain Raúl Argueta and First Officer Reiniero Canales went to trial, but the trial was never resolved.Five months later another aircraft, a L-188 Electra operated by "Sahsa Carga" (HR-TNL), crashed in the same place with a similar situation, making it the third accident by Sahsa in six months.
Due to its bad safety history, Sahsa went into bankruptcy in the early 1990s.