Narrative:
SAHSA Flight 203 took off from La Mesa at 08:15 for a 32-minute flight to Tegucigalpa. The flight was uneventful and the crew were assigned runway 01 for landing. The landing was normal and smooth, but the propeller reverser system failed. The crew were unable to move the throttles into the reverse-position. The aircraft had passed the point were a go-around could be attempted, so the brakes were used. The two outermost tires from the main gear legs burst. Nearing the end of the runway, a ground-loop was attempted. The DC-6 ran off the runway and the nose gear ran into a ditch, followed by the left main gear leg. The left wing fuel tank burst and the aircraft caught fire.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "According to the reports by 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."
accident date: 20-02-1967
type: Douglas DC-6
registration: HR-SAS
accident date: 20-02-1967
type: Douglas DC-6
registration: HR-SAS
| Status: | |
| Date: | Monday 20 February 1967 |
| Time: | 08:45 |
| Type: |  Douglas DC-6 |
| Operator: | SAHSA - Servicio Aéreo de Honduras SA |
| Registration: | HR-SAS |
| MSN: | 42894/56 |
| First flight: | 1947 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 5 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 4 / Occupants: 50 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 4 / Occupants: 55 |
| Aircraft damage: | Damaged beyond repair |
| Location: | Tegucigalpa-Toncontin Airport (TGU) ( Honduras)
|
| Phase: | Landing (LDG) |
| Nature: | Domestic Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | San Pedro Sula-Ramon Villeda Morales Airport (SAP/MHLM), Honduras |
| Tegucigalpa-Toncontin Airport (TGU/MHTG), Honduras | |
| Flightnumber: | 203 |
SAHSA Flight 203 took off from La Mesa at 08:15 for a 32-minute flight to Tegucigalpa. The flight was uneventful and the crew were assigned runway 01 for landing. The landing was normal and smooth, but the propeller reverser system failed. The crew were unable to move the throttles into the reverse-position. The aircraft had passed the point were a go-around could be attempted, so the brakes were used. The two outermost tires from the main gear legs burst. Nearing the end of the runway, a ground-loop was attempted. The DC-6 ran off the runway and the nose gear ran into a ditch, followed by the left main gear leg. The left wing fuel tank burst and the aircraft caught fire.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "According to the reports by 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."
Classification:
Runway excursion
Photos
accident date: 20-02-1967
type: Douglas DC-6
registration: HR-SAS
accident date: 20-02-1967
type: Douglas DC-6
registration: HR-SAS
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from San Pedro Sula-Ramon Villeda Morales Airport to Tegucigalpa-Toncontin Airport as the crow flies is 171 km (107 miles).
Distance from San Pedro Sula-Ramon Villeda Morales Airport to Tegucigalpa-Toncontin Airport as the crow flies is 171 km (107 miles).
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
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