Accident Lockheed L-188A Electra HR-SAW, Thursday 8 January 1981

Date:	Thursday 8 January 1981
Time:
Type:	Lockheed L-188A Electra
Owner/operator:	SAHSA - Servicio Aéreo de Honduras SA
Registration:	HR-SAW
MSN:	1018
Year of manufacture:	1958
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 6 / Occupants: 6
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Destroyed, written off
Category:	Accident
Location:	1,5 km W of Guatemala City-La Aurora Airport (GUA) -   Guatemala
Phase:	Initial climb
Nature:	Ferry/positioning
Departure airport:	Guatemala City-La Aurora Airport (GUA/MGGT)
Destination airport:	Tegucigalpa-Toncontin Airport (TGU/MHTG)

Narrative:
After the plane arrived at La Aurora with one engine shut down and one of the electrical generators malfunctioning, the crew decided to ferry the aircraft to Honduras for repairs. The passengers deplaned and the Electra took off for a three-engined ferry flight.
Shortly after take off, the pilot reported a total loss of hydraulic pressure and difficulty to control the plane. The Electra began to return to La Aurora, but the plane lost altitude until it crashed into some houses 1 mile west of the airport.

PROBABLE CAUSE: A second electrical generator was damaged during the take off roll, causing a lack of power to keep the hydraulic pressure above minimums. It was also concluded that the flying controls were mistrimmed.

Sources:

Mario Overall
NTSB recommendation
Prensa Libre Newspaper
Aeronautica

Location

Images:

photo (c) via Werner Fischdick; San Andres Island Airport (ADZ); May 1975

Revision history:

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