Guatemala City-La Aurora

Region:

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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 Lockheed L-188A Electra in Guatemala City: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jan 8, 1981

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed L-188 Electra

Operator:

Registration:

HR-SAW

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Positioning

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Guatemala City - Tegucigalpa

MSN:

1018

YOM:

1958

Location:

Country:

Region:

Landing (descent or approach)

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Circumstances:

Prior to takeoff from Guatemala City to Tegucigalpa, one of the engine failed as well as a generator. Passengers were disembarked and the captain decided to fly to Tegucigalpa on three engines only. Less than one minute after takeoff, while climbing, the pilot reported a critical situation and requested an immediate return. While making a last turn, the airplane lost height and crashed on a residential area located 1,500 meters from the airport, bursting into flames. All six occupants were killed and 38 people on ground were injured. The aircraft and several houses were destroyed.

Probable cause:

It was determined that a second generator failed during initial climb for unknown reasons. Due to insufficient power, hydraulic pressure dropped below minimums, causing the airspeed to drop and the aircraft to stall. The fact that the aircraft was not correctly trimmed was considered as a contributing factor.

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo in Guatemala City: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 10, 1980

Type of aircraft:

Piper PA-31-310 Navajo

Operator:

Registration:

FAS001

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

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Schedule:

San Salvador – Guatemala City

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Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

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Circumstances:

On approach to Guatemala City-La Aurora Airport, the pilot encountered low visibility due to heavy rain falls when the twin engine airplane crashed near Santa Catarina Pinula, few km from the airfield. The airplane was destroyed and all three occupants were killed, three officers of the Salvadoran Air Force, among them Gilberto Balmore Escamilla, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces.
Crew:
Maj Fernando Salazar Mena,
Cpt Fredy Roberto Asencio.
Passenger:
Gilberto Balmore Escamilla.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 near Poptún: 31 killed

Date & Time: Feb 28, 1980

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Guatemala City - Poptún

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed Guatemala City Airport, carrying 27 passengers and four crew members, essentially army officers and family members who were flying to Poptún to visit Maya ruins. In unknown circumstances, the airplane crashed in a mountainous area located about 65 km south of Poptún. All 31 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas DC-6B in Guatemala City: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jun 8, 1978

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-6

Operator:

Registration:

TG-ADA

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Miami - Guatemala City

MSN:

43531/262

YOM:

1952

Location:

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Region:

Convair CV-440 Metropolitan

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

The four engine airplane was completing a cargo flight from Miami to Guatemala City, carrying three crew members and a load consisting of alive animals (cows and horses). On final approach, the airplane pitched up and down then nosed down by an angle of 30° and crashed on a soccer field located few km short of runway. The aircraft was destroyed and all three crew members and all animals were killed.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the animals were not properly restrained in the cabin and started to move on final approach, causing the CofG to be displaced and the aircraft to become uncontrollable.

Crash of a Convair CV-440 Metropolitan in Guatemala City

Date & Time: Apr 27, 1977

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

TG-ACA

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

MSN:

143

YOM:

1954

Location:

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Region:

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

After takeoff from Guatemala City-La Aurora Airport, while climbing, the left engine failed. The pilot declared an emergency and was cleared to return. Unfortunately, he was unable to feather the left propeller and the airplane became unstable. In such conditions, the captain decided to attempt a belly landing in an open field located near the airport. The aircraft slid for dozen meters and came to rest. While all 28 occupants were evacuated safely, the aircraft was written off.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the failure of the left engine was the consequence of an hydraulic leak. Following maintenance, a hydraulic hose was not properly connected and failed after takeoff.

Crash of a Lockheed 18-56-23 LodeStar in Tikal: 24 killed

Date & Time: Dec 29, 1974

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed 18 LodeStar

Operator:

Erwin Ortiz

Registration:

TG-HTM

Flight Phase:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Tikal - Guatemala City

MSN:

2582

YOM:

1943

Location:

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Circumstances:

Few minutes after takeoff from Tikal Airport, while climbing, the airplane went out of control and crashed on the slope of a mountain located few km from the airport. The aircraft was destroyed and all 24 occupants were killed, among them 21 Americans returning to Guatemala City.

Probable cause:

The exact cause of the accident was not determined. However, the assumption that control was lost following an in-flight fire was not ruled out.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 near Guatemala: 6 killed

Date & Time: Oct 3, 1974

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Humanitarian

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Location:

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed Guatemala City-La Aurora Airport on a humanitarian flight to Honduras, carrying various goods for the victims of the hurricane 'Fifi'. Few minutes after takeoff, the crew encountered engine problems when the airplane crashed 14 km from the airport. All six occupants were killed, among them both Guatemalan businessman Afonso Bosch and Dionisio Gutiérrez.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-55-CK Commando near Guatemala City: 5 killed

Date & Time: May 11, 1971

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

TG-ACA

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Guatemala City – Flores

MSN:

121

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region: