Narrative:The Grand Caravan YN-CED was equipped with a Garmin 100 GPS. At some time prior to the flight the GPS was removed because it was to be used in a helicopter operated by La Costeña. The airplane departed Managua (MGA) on a flight to Bluefields (BEF). The descent for Bluefields was started prematurely.
The Caravan flew into a remote hillside of the Cerro Silva at approx. the 2000 feet level. the aircraft was on a VFR flight in weather conditions including low clouds and rain. Safety altitude in the area was 2700 feet.
Classification:
VFR flight in IMC
Premature descent
Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) - Mountain
Sources:
» Avión se estrelló por "razones desconocidas"(El Nuevo Diario 25-9-1999)
Photos
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 Managua-Augusto C. Sandino Airport to Bluefields Airport as the crow flies is 259 km (162 miles).
Accident location: Global; accuracy within tens or hundreds of kilometers.
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.