Crash of a Beechcraft 200 Super King Air in Palajuyú

Date & Time: Oct 25, 2019
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft 200 Super King Air
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Illegal (smuggling)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
Palajuyú
Escuintla
Country:
Guatemala
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing an illegal flight between Venezuela and Honduras. En route, the airplane was traced by Honduran and Guatemalan Authorities and the crew eventually completed a belly landing in Palajuyú, in the region of Sipacate, Guatemala. Law enforcement officers were fired upon arrival and the occupants left the crash site and were not found. The aircraft was destroyed. An important load of contraband was found on board.

Crash of a BAe 125-700A near Champerico: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 2, 2019
Type of aircraft:
BAe 125
Operator:
Registration:
XB-PTW
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Illegal (smuggling)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Zihuatanejo - Chetumal
MSN:
257083
YOM:
1979
Location:
Champerico
Retalhuleu
Country:
Guatemala
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane was apparently engaged in an illegal flight, carrying a crew of two. It crashed in unknown circumstances near Champerico, Guatemala, and was totally destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire. According to the flight plan, the aircraft was supposed to fly from Zihuatanejo to Chetumal with one passenger and two crew members. Guatemalan authorities reported that the flight was illegal and that the aircraft was presumed transporting a load of cocaine.

Crash of a Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain in Sayaxché: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 13, 2019
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain
Operator:
Registration:
N2613
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Illegal (smuggling)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
Sayaxché
Petén
Country:
Guatemala
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
In the morning, the Guatemala Army Forces were informed by ATC that a PA-31 entered the Guatemala Airspace without prior permission. The twin engine airplane crashed in a wooded area located near the farm of Sepens located in the region of Sayaxché, Petén. The aircraft was partially destroyed by impact forces and both occupants were killed. A sticker was set on the fuselage with the registration N2613 which is wrong.

Crash of a Cessna 421 Golden Eagle near Génova: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 27, 2018
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 421 Golden Eagle
Operator:
Registration:
N113FT
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Illegal (smuggling)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Guatemala City – El Petén
Location:
Génova
Quetzaltenango
Country:
Guatemala
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances in an open field located near Génova. The aircraft came to rest upside down and both occupants were killed. It is understood that the registration was false as N113FT is officially attributed to a Piper PA-46 according to the FAA. Thus, it is believed that the flight was illegal.

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 in Guatemala City

Date & Time: Nov 21, 2015 at 1240 LT
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-310 Navajo
Operator:
Three T’s Auto Sale
Registration:
C6-TAK
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
City
Schedule:
Guatemala City - Guatemala City
MSN:
31-228
YOM:
1968
Location:
Guatemala City-La Aurora
Guatemala
Country:
Guatemala
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
191
Copilot / Total flying hours:
4735
Aircraft flight hours:
7600
Circumstances:
The crew departed Guatemala City-La Aurora Airport on a local training flight. Shortly after takeoff from runway 02, while in initial climb, the aircraft entered a right turn then lost height and crashed near an industrial building located about 900 metres from the runway 20 threshold. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire. Both pilots escaped uninjured.
Probable cause:
The aircraft stalled at low height after takeoff due to a poor crew coordination about flight controls.
Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain in Puerto Barrios: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 23, 2010 at 1050 LT
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain
Operator:
New Life Research & Development
Registration:
N430LA
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Guatemala City – Rio Dulce
MSN:
31-7405446
YOM:
1974
Location:
Puerto Barrios
Izabal
Country:
Guatemala
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The twin engine departed Guatemala City-La Aurora Airport at 0930LT on a flight to Rio Dulce with two pilots on board. En roue, the crew contacted ATC, modified his flight plan and was cleared to continue direct to Puerto Barrios. Following few touch-and-go manoeuvres at Puerto Barrios Airport, the crew completed a new approach and landing on runway 12. The pilot-in-command increased engine power and took off when he lost control of the airplane that crashed on a road, coming to rest upside down. The aircraft was destroyed and both occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control following an unstabilized approach. The failure of the crew to initiate a go-around procedure was considered as a contributing factor.
Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-325 Navajo C/R (Panther) in Guatemala City: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 26, 2010 at 0855 LT
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-310 Navajo
Operator:
Ocean City Comercial
Registration:
TG-LAP
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
City
Schedule:
Guatemala City - San Salvador
MSN:
31-8012043
YOM:
1980
Location:
Guatemala City-La Aurora
Guatemala
Country:
Guatemala
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Guatemala City-La Aurora Airport at 0840LT on a flight to San Salvador-Ilopango Airport, carrying two passengers and one pilot. About 4-5 minutes after takeoff, while climbing in IMC conditions, the pilot reported technical problems with the instruments and was cleared for an immediate return. Shortly later, the aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in a meat packing plant located in the approach path. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces as well as the building. All three occupants as well as one people in the factory were killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control following the failure of the attitude indicator while climbing in IMC conditions.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 208A Caravan I in Cabañas: 11 killed

Date & Time: Aug 24, 2008 at 0941 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 208A Caravan
Operator:
Registration:
TG-JCS
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Guatemala City - El Estor
MSN:
208-0327
YOM:
2001
Location:
Cabañas
Zacapa
Country:
Guatemala
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Captain / Total flying hours:
3057
Copilot / Total flying hours:
2596
Circumstances:
The single engine aircraft departed Guatemala City-La Aurora Airport at 0923LT on a flight to El Estor with 12 passengers and two pilots on board. About 18 minutes into the flight, the crew encountered engine problems. The captain contacted ATC and declared an emergency. The crew reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft crashed in an open field, bursting into flames. Three passengers were seriously injured while 11 other occupants including both pilots were killed.
Probable cause:
The sudden engine failure during flight, forcing the pilot to make an emergency landing, the aircraft impacting unsuitable terrain at a descent angle. The engine power loss was caused by the fracture of more than one compressor turbine blade, the impact of the blades in the inner parts general causing damage on the internal mechanism of the turbine station. The gas generator was rotating at low speed with the propeller feathered on the first impact with the ground. The high concentration of fire in the compressor section and in the combustion chamber, possibly indicate that several attempts were made on the engine to cause the compressor to continue working after losing the blades.
Final Report:

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 a Piper PA-31T Cheyenne in Quetzaltenango

Date & Time: Nov 22, 2006
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31 Cheyenne
Operator:
Registration:
TG-NCN
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Guatemala City - Quetzaltenango
Location:
Quetzaltenango-Los Altos
Quetzaltenango
Country:
Guatemala
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Quetzaltenango-Los Altos Airport, the pilot encountered engine problems. He completed a belly landing in a wheatfield located few km from the airport. The pilot escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
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