Crash of a Rockwell Sabreliner 65 near El Chico: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 9, 2020
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
XA-VD?
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
465-30
YOM:
1980
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew was apparently trying to land on an illegal airstrip when the aircraft struck trees and crashed, coming to rest upside down. A load of narcotics was found on board as well as a dead body. The aircraft registration needs to be confirmed - XA-VD?.

Crash of a Gulfstream GIII in the Laguna del Tigre National Park: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 29, 2020
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N461AR
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
384
YOM:
1983
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Aircraft flight hours:
10920
Circumstances:
Probably engaged in an illegal flight, the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances in an isolated and swampy area located in the Laguna del Tigre National Park. The wreckage was found on November 2 about 7 km south from the Mexican border. Two dead bodies were found and the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a BAe 125-800A near Alta Verapaz: 4 killed

Date & Time: Sep 23, 2020
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
XB-PYZ
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
258018
YOM:
1984
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Engaged in an illegal flight, the crew was attempting to land on a remote airstrip located in the region of Alta Verapaz. In unclear circumstances, the aircraft struck trees and crashed in a wooded area, bursting into flames. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire and all four occupants were killed.

Crash of a Learjet 35 in Santa Marta

Date & Time: Sep 21, 2020
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
XA-DOC
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Country:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing an illegal flight in Central America and was apparently attempting to land on a remote area near Santa Marta. The accident occurred in unclear circumstances and nobody was found in the wreckage. The registration XA-DOC is false and the MSN of the airplane remains unknown.

Crash of a Dassault Falcon 200 in Palenque

Date & Time: Aug 29, 2020 at 2100 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
XB-OAP
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
504
YOM:
1986
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
In unknown circumstances, the crew made a belly landing near Palenque Airport. By night, the aircraft crash landed in an open field and came to rest. The occupant(s) was/were not found but law enforcement officials found 3 tons of cocaine on board. The aircraft seems to be written off.

Crash of a Rockwell 690B Turbo Commander in Ahuas

Date & Time: Aug 23, 2020
Operator:
Registration:
XB-DRA
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
11423
YOM:
1977
Country:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft was engagted in an illegal contraband flight when it crash landed in an open field located near Ahuas. No one was found on site and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. A load of cocaine was found on board.

Crash of a Rockwell Sabreliner 75A near Punto Fijo: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 10, 2020
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N400RS
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
380-25
YOM:
1978
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The aircraft entered the Venezuelan airspace without flight plan and authorisation. While flying over the Paraguaña Peninsula at low altitude, the crew was forced to land when control was lost. The aircraft crashed in shallow water few meters offshore, lost its tail and both wings. Both pilots were killed.

Crash of a Cessna 401A in the Lake Maracaibo

Date & Time: Aug 1, 2020
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N17JE
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Puerto Plata – Santa Cruz de Barahona
MSN:
401A-0082
YOM:
1969
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Puerto Plata-Gregorio Luperón Airport at 1718LT on a flight to Santa Cruz de Barahona. En route, the pilot was informed that this airport is closed to all traffic after 1700LT and decided to return to Puerto Plata. A last radio communication was recorded with ATC when the aircraft disappeared from radar screens eight minutes later. Dominican authorities thought the aircraft may have crashed in the septentrional mountain range and SAR operations were initiated. Few hours later, the wreckage was found in a marshy area of the Lake Maracaibo, more than 1,000 km south of Puerto Plata. All three occupants were found alive and arrested while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. Venezuelan authorities reported the aircraft and its occupants were engaged in an illegal narcotic flight.

Crash of a Cessna 402C in Papa Lealea

Date & Time: Jul 26, 2020 at 1246 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VH-TSI
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Papa Lealea - Mareeba
MSN:
402C-0492
YOM:
1981
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On 26 July 2020, at 12:46 local time (02:46 UTC), a Cessna 402C aircraft, registered VH-TSI collided with trees during an aborted take-off at an uncommissioned field near Papa-Lealea, about 16 nm North-West of Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. The pilot, during interview with the AIC, stated that he departed at 09:30 that day from Mareeba Airport, Queensland Australia and tracked towards the North North-East with a planned track set slightly left of Jacksons International Airport, Port Moresby, National Capital District, Papua New Guinea. As the aircraft neared the Southern shoreline (within the Caution Bay area), he diverted left and began tracking towards the North West along the coast in order to avoid flying over villages in the area. He subsequently crossed over land before turning back to approach the intended landing field. As the aircraft approached to land, the outboard section of the left wing was clipped by a tree and separated from the aircraft. According to the pilot, he continued on with the approach and landed on the field at about 12:20. The pilot reported that he had flown to and within Papua New Guinea in the past and was familiar with the area and airspace. He confirmed that after departing Mareeba, he switched off the transponder. After shutting down the aircraft, the aircraft was refuelled with jerrycans full of fuel (AvGas) and loaded with cargo by persons waiting on the ground. The pilot reported that he estimated that a distance of 800 m would be required for the take-off. According to the pilot, at about 12:40, he lined up and commenced his take-off roll from the Southern end of the field. As the aircraft lifted off, he noticed that the airspeed indicator (ASI) was not working. He also observed that the aircraft was not achieving a positive rate of climb. He subsequently pulled the throttles back and manoeuvred the aircraft back towards the ground. The aircraft touched down with a speed that the pilot described as higher than normal, with about 400 m of usable field remaining. The aircraft continued off the end of the field and into the bushes clipping trees along the way until it came to rest. The pilot informed the AIC that he was the sole occupant of the aircraft, and sustained minor injuries as a result of the occurrence. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The investigation confirmed that the fire to the left wing and engine was a post-accident event and was deliberate. The pilot was later arrested and a load of 500 kilos of cocaine distributed in 28 bales was found at the scene.
Probable cause:
The investigation determined that the separation of the outboard section of the left wing, clipped by a tree during the approach to land phase, affected the ability of the left wing to produce lift. The investigation could not conclusively determine the actual weight and balance of the aircraft as it was not possible to determine the quantity and quality of fuel on board, nor the weight and distribution of the cargo that was on board. The evidence gathered during the investigation did not allow the AIC to discard overweight, balance or centre of gravity issues due to improper loading or restrain of the cargo as factors contributing to the inability of the aircraft to obtain a positive rate of climb during take-off. The evidence of tire marks found by the investigators on the uncommissioned field indicated that the aircraft touched down about 400 m before the end of the field, distance that was not enough for the aircraft to come to a stop, continuing its landing roll into the bushes and impacting trees until it got to its final position. The investigation determined that the aircraft was not airworthy at the time of the accident and was unserviceable for the conduct of the flight. The investigation also determined that there was no proper document control to conduct timely scheduled maintenance and that there was no record of a certificate of airworthiness (CoA) at the time of the accident.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft B200 Super King Air near Brus Laguna

Date & Time: Jul 20, 2020
Operator:
Registration:
N740P
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
BB-1218
YOM:
1985
Country:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Engaged in an illegal flight, the twin engine airplane landed on a dirt road located about 35 km southwest of Brus Laguna. The nose gear collapsed and the aircraft came to rest, damaged beyond repair. No one was found on site and a load of 806 kilos of cocaine was seized.