TACA crash

TangoWhiskey

TangoWhiskey

Touchdown! Greaser!
Joined
Feb 23, 2005
Messages
14,210
Location
Midlothian, TX
Display Name
Display name:
3Green
Until I read this post I didn't know about the crash in El Salvador today.

Here's an interesting page, check out the video of how an approach into that airport / runway is flown. There's also a link to the approach plate.

http://avherald.com/h?article=4077cedf&opt=0

Can you say "ouch"?

flybil2_1212175438-1.jpg
 
Last edited:
I have flown TACA. The ceiling collapsed on our flight. In coach they give you good booze for free and as much as you want. I know why!!

BTW TACA stands for That Ain't Comin' Amigo!
 
Remember, it was TACA that landed a 737 on a levee near New Orleans (fair's fair, it was not their fault, they did not scratch any metal and the plane flew out - from the levee!).
 
Here's something I posted over at http://www.houstonspotters.net/ about this:

Originally posted by Me
From the avHerald Article
METARS:
MHTG 301600Z 20009KT 3000SW -DZ FEW006 BKN020 OVC080 22/20 Q1017 3KM SW WSW W 8KM CTE E PCPN CL D/C UNL HZ AVION DE TACA ACCIDENTADO EN LA PISTA 19 EN EL AEROPUERTO TONCONTIN

MHTG 301500Z 19004KT 2000S -DZ FEW008 BKN020 OCV080 21/19 Q1016 2KM S SW WSW D/C 8KM PCPN CL HZ

MHTG 301400Z 16004KT 3000SW -DZ FEW006 BKN020 OVC080 20/19 Q1016 3KM SW WSW NW D/C 8KM PCPN CL HZ NOSIG
Click to expand...

So, let me get this straight, they were landing on a short runway with a 04-09kt direct tailwind? Looking at the chart, it appears that they should be able to shoot an approach from the north and make a right turn to final for 20 - I wonder if there are other factors that won't allow that? Other than that tailwind, I don't see anything else in the METAR that would be a big contributing factor to this accident - there were a few clouds at 600-800 AGL, and a broken layer at 2000AGL. Now, the MDA for that approach is 5620'MSL, and the airport is at 3297'MSL, so that broken layer would have been at 5297'MSL, therefore they would have been right in the middle of that broken layer at their MDA, but they still had 2000' after they broke out of those clouds. The visibility was 2-3km in light drizzle, so I guess that could be part of the problem, but that shouldn't be below minimums, I wouldn't think. Although, this is a non-precision approach.

Keep in mind that I'm not instrument rated yet, so I very well could be talking out of my ass...
Click to expand...
 
http://www.therealnicaragua.com/vb/forums/showthread.php?t=4719
The US has given permission to Honduras to utilize an old Military Airbase in Honduras as the International Airport.

Soto Cano Air Base, known as Palmerola Air Base, was built by the US in the 1980's to transport troops and other assets to the region. Today it is still an operational runway in good condition, which still holds about 500 US military.

More info on the base found here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soto_Cano_Air_Base

There are currently 4 International Airports in Honduras, and to build another would cost upwards of U$150 million Dollars.
Click to expand...
TACA is a safe airline to fly. We've had issues with their customer service, but that's our only complaint.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top