Zone
Petén

Crash of a Beechcraft A100 King Air near Santa Elena: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 4, 2007
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft 100 King Air
Operator:
Registration:
XB-JVV
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Illegal (smuggling)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
B-170
YOM:
1973
Location:
Flores-Mundo Maya (Santa Elena)
Petén
Country:
Guatemala
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was performing an illegal flight from Colombia to Mexico with one ton of cocaine on board. While flying over the State of El Petén in Guatemala, the pilot informed ATC about technical problem and was cleared to divert to Santa Elena-Munda Maya Airport. On approach, the twin engine aircraft crashed in an open field located 30 km from the airport. The aircraft was destroyed and both occupants were killed. Guatemaltecan Authorities confirmed that at the time of the accident, the aircraft was registered YV-1568 which was a false registration; the real one was XB-JVV.

Crash of an Embraer EMB-110P1 Bandeirante in Flores: 14 killed

Date & Time: Nov 1, 1996 at 0810 LT
Type of aircraft:
Embraer EMB-110 Bandeirante
Operator:
Transportes Aéreos Profesionales Guatemalteca
Registration:
TG-TPA
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Guatemala - Flores
MSN:
110-313
YOM:
1980
Location:
Flores-Mundo Maya (Santa Elena)
Petén
Country:
Guatemala
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
14
Circumstances:
The approach to Flores-Santa Elena was completed in poor weather conditions. While descending at an altitude of 900 feet, the aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located 8 km from the runway threshold. All 14 occupants were killed, 13 citizen from Guatemala and one Mexican.

Crash of a Beechcraft B80 Queen Air near Palencia: 13 killed

Date & Time: Nov 21, 1993 at 1647 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft 80 Queen Air
Operator:
Registration:
TG-ACP
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Flores – Guatemala City
Location:
Palencia
Guatemala
Country:
Guatemala
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Flores Airport on a charter flight to Guatemala City, carrying 12 passengers and one pilot, among them three American citizens. The pilot started the descent to Guatemala City-La Aurora in good weather conditions despite some mountains were shrouded in clouds. On approach, the aircraft struck a mountain located near Palencia, about 20 km northeast of La Aurora Airport. The aircraft was destroyed and all 13 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of an IAI Arava 201 in Flores: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 23, 1987
Type of aircraft:
IAI Arava 201
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Skydiving / Paratroopers
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Flores - Flores
Location:
Flores-Mundo Maya (Santa Elena)
Petén
Country:
Guatemala
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane was engaged in a paratroopers/skydiving mission in the region of Flores. After all skydivers bailed out, the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances. All three crew members were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 in Flores: 12 killed

Date & Time: May 28, 1987
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Flores – El Naranjo
Location:
Flores-Mundo Maya (Santa Elena)
Petén
Country:
Guatemala
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Flores-Santa Elena Airport, while climbing, the airplane went out of control and crashed on the shore of lake Petén Itza. All 12 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Sud-Aviation SE-210 Caravelle VI-N in Flores: 94 killed

Date & Time: Jan 18, 1986 at 0758 LT
Type of aircraft:
Sud-Aviation SE-210 Caravelle
Operator:
Registration:
HC-BAE
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Guatemala City - Flores
MSN:
40
YOM:
1960
Location:
Flores-Mundo Maya (Santa Elena)
Petén
Country:
Guatemala
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
88
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
94
Circumstances:
On approach to Flores-Santa Elena Airport, the crew encountered poor visibility due to foggy conditions. The captain initiated a go-around, followed a circuit and started a second approach few minutes later. As the visibility was still below minimums, the crew was unable to sight and locate the runway. The aircraft passed over the airport without any visual contact was established and continued when it struck the slope of a mountain located 8 km from the airfield. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 94 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain after the crew decided to attempt a second approach in below minimums visibility due to fog.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3 in Flores

Date & Time: Jul 26, 1978
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
TG-ATA
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Flores-Mundo Maya (Santa Elena)
Petén
Country:
Guatemala
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While taking off, the airplane suffered a bird strike. The crew was forced to attempt an emergency landing when the airplane crash landed in a swampy area located past the runway end. There were no injuries but the aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
Bird strike on takeoff.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-50-DL off Flores

Date & Time: Jul 20, 1978
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Aero Express - Guatemala
Registration:
TG-PAW
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Dos Lagunas - Flores
MSN:
10127
YOM:
1943
Location:
Flores-Mundo Maya (Santa Elena)
Petén
Country:
Guatemala
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a cargo flight from Dos Lagunas to Flores, Petén. On approach to Flores-Santa Elena Airport, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances into Lake Petén Itzá. All three occupants were rescued while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-25-DK in Santa Elena: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 30, 1977
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
TG-AKA
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
13327
YOM:
1944
Location:
Flores-Mundo Maya (Santa Elena)
Petén
Country:
Guatemala
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
After touchdown on a gravel runway, the left tire burst. Control was lost and the airplane veered off runway to the left. The left engine struck the ground, causing a propeller blade to detach and to struck the cockpit. The airplane rolled for few meters then came to a halt. Three occupants escaped with minor injuries while the captain was killed after being struck by the propeller blade.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL near El Caoba: 15 killed

Date & Time: Nov 18, 1975
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
TG-AGA
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Flores - Uaxactun
MSN:
6142
YOM:
1942
Location:
El Caoba
Petén
Country:
Guatemala
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
18
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
15
Circumstances:
En route from Flores to Uaxactun, the crew encountered poor weather conditions when the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances near El Caoba. Seven passengers were injured while 15 other occupants were killed.
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