Central America

The twin engine aircraft departed Chihuahua-General Fierro Villalobos Airport at 1352LT on a flight to Zacatecas, carrying four passengers and one pilot. It continued to the south at an altitude of 11,500 feet and a speed of 120 knots. The flight was uneventful until the pilot started the descent to Zacatecas-General Leobardo C. Ruiz. when the left engine lost power then failed shortly later. The pilot reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft crash landed in an open field located near Purisima del Maguey, some 25 km northwest of Zacatecas Airport. All five occupants evacuated safely and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Few minutes after he departed Isla del Rey Airport, while overflying the bay of Panama City, the pilot informed ATC about engine problems. Unable to reach Panama City-Marcos A. Gelabert Airport, the pilot reduced his altitude and elected to make an emergency landing on the Perico Island, some 10 km south of Panama City Airport. After touchdown, the aircraft rolled for few dozen metres before coming to rest against a container. All eight occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

The aircraft departed the Dominican Republic for an international flight and no flight plan was filed. While cruising in the region of Jérémie, the twin engine aircraft hit a mountain some 30 km from Jérémie. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post-crash fire and both occupants were killed. According to Dominican Authorities, the owner of the plane, a businessman, leased it to a couple from Honduras who were certainly performing an illegal flight.

On Thursday June 13, 2013 at approximately 1750UTC (1:50pm local time), a fixed wing, twin turboprop regional airliner, was involved in an accident as a result of a runway excursion while landing during heavy rain showers at Marsh Harbor Int’l Airport, Marsh Harbor, Abaco, Bahamas. The aircraft, a SAAB 340B aircraft was operated by SkyBahamas Airlines and bore Bahamas registration C6-SBJ, serial number 316. C6-SBJ departed Fort Lauderdale Int’l Airport (KFLL), Fort Lauderdale, Florida in the USA as Tropical Sky 9561. The airline, SkyBahamas Airline is a Bahamas Air Operator Certificate Holder with approved scheduled operations to and from Fort Lauderdale International Airport, Florida USA (KFLL) and Marsh Harbor Int’l Airport, Marsh Harbor, Abaco in the Bahamas. The crew received weather information and IFR route clearance from KFLL Control Tower. This passenger carrying flight departed KFLL at 1706UTC (1:06pm local) on an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan. The point of intended landing was Marsh Harbor International Airport, Abaco, Bahamas (MYAM). The crew selected runway 09 at MYAM for landing. At 17:45:30, the aircraft leveled off at 1,500 feet ASL on a heading of 096 degrees magnetic, with airspeed of 236 knots indicated (KIAS). The flaps were extended to 15 degrees at 17:47:18 with the aircraft level at 1,300 feet ASL, approximately 4.2 nm on the approach. The autopilot was disconnected at 17:47:26 with the aircraft level at 1,300 feet ASL, approximately 3.8 nm on the approach. Heading was 097 degrees magnetic and airspeed was 166 KIAS. The Landing Gear was extended and in the down and locked position by 17:48:01 as the aircraft descended through 730 feet ASL. At 17:48:03, the flaps were extended to landing flap 20 degrees with the aircraft approximately 1.9 nm from the runway on the approach. At 17:48:47, as the aircraft approached the threshold, the power levers were retarded (from 52 degrees) and the engine torques decreased from approximately 20%. Approximately one second later, the aircraft crossed the threshold at a radio altitude of 50 feet AGL on a heading 098 degrees magnetic and airspeed of 171 KIAS. The crew encountered rain showers and a reduction in visibility. The aircraft initially touched down at 17:49:02 with a recorded vertical load factor of +2.16G, approximately 14 seconds after crossing the threshold. There were no indications on the runway to indicate where the initial touchdown had occurred. Upon initial landing however, the aircraft bounced and became airborne, reaching a calculated maximum height of approximately 15 feet AGL. The aircraft bounced a second time at 17:49:07 with a recorded vertical load factor of +3.19* G. During this second bounce, the pitch attitude was 1.8 degrees nose down, heading 102 degrees magnetic and airspeed 106 KIAS. The aircraft made consecutive contact with the runway approximately three times. The third and final bounce occurred at 17:49:14 with a recorded vertical load factor of +3.66G*. During the third bounce, the pitch attitude was 2.2 degrees nose down, heading 099 degrees magnetic and airspeed 98 KIAS. As a result of the hard touchdown, damage was sustained to the right wing and right hand engine/propeller. The right hand engine parameters recorded a rapid loss of power with decreasing engine speed and torque, and subsequent propeller stoppage. The aircraft veered off to the right at approximate time of 17:49:20 on a heading of 131 degrees magnetic at a point approximately 6,044 feet from the threshold of runway 09. The recorded airspeed was 44 KIAS with the left hand engine torque at 26 % and the right hand engine torque at 0%. The aircraft came to a full stop at approximate time 17:49:25 on a heading of 231 degrees magnetic. When the aircraft came to a stop, the flight and cabin crew and twenty-one (21) passengers evacuated the aircraft. The evacuation was uneventful using the main entrance door. Due to the damage sustained by the right wing and engine, evacuation on the right side was not considered. The evacuation occurred during heavy rainfall. No injuries were reported as a result of the accident or evacuation process. The airplane sustained substantial damage as a result of the impact sequence. The elevation of the accident site was reported as approximately 10 feet Mean Sea Level (MSL). Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC) prevailed at the time of the accident. The cockpit voice recorder (CVR) uncovered that this crew used no crew resource management or adherence to company standard operating procedures. During the final seconds of the flight, there was complete confusion on the flight deck as to who was in control of the aircraft. After failure of the windshield wiper on the left side of the aircraft, the captain continued to maneuver the aircraft despite having no visual contact of the field due to heavy rain. Sterile Cockpit procedures were not adhered to by this crew as they continued with non-essential conversation throughout the flight regime from engine start up in KFLL up until the “before landing checklist” was requested prior to landing.

The aircraft was returning to Manaus (Ponta Pelada AFB) with a crew of 12 and 131 Brazilian soldiers who took part of the United Nations Stabilization Mission In Haiti (UNSTAMIH). During the takeoff roll on runway 28, an engine caught fire. The Captain aborted the takeoff procedure and started an emergency braking manoeuvre. The aircraft veered off runway to the left and entered a grassy area. The nose gear was torn off and the aircraft slid for several metres before coming to rest. All 143 occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Shortly after takeoff from Zacatecas Airport Runway 20, while in initial climb, the crew informed ATC about technical problems with the left engine and attempted to return to land on runway 02. Eventually, the crew attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft crashed in a soft and dry terrain located southeast of the airport, bursting into flames, about one minute after takeoff. The aircraft was totally destroyed by a post crash fire and all six occupants were killed, among them two agents of the Federal Police and one employee of the Public Minister.

En route from Cuernavaca to Guadalajara, while in cruising altitude, the pilot informed ATC about technical problems with the right engine. He was cleared to divert to Morelia Airport for an emergency landing. On final approach to runway 05, the twin engine aircraft crashed in an open field located about 2 km short of runway. All six occupants evacuated with minor injuries and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

On Thursday April 4, 2013 at approximately1:00AM DST (0500 UTC) a fixed wing, twin-engine, Cessna 402C aircraft Bahamas registration C6-BGJ, serial number 402C0106, crashed into obstacles (vehicles) while landing on Runway 06 at Mayaguana International Airport (MYMM), Abraham’s Bay, Mayaguana, Bahamas. The pilot in command stated that on April 3, 2013, he received a call at approximately 9:30PM from the Princess Margaret Hospital requesting emergency air ambulance services out of Mayaguana. The local police on the island was contacted to confirm lighting approval and availability in order to conduct the emergency flight. After confirming lighting arrangements with Nassau Air Traffic Control Services, and obtaining the necessary clearance, the pilot in command, along with a copilot and one passenger, (a nurse), proceeded with the flight to Mayaguana. The flight departed Lynden Pindling International Airport at approximately 1:30PM DST (0330UTC). The destination was Abraham’s Bay, Mayaguana, Bahamas. The pilot in command also reported “about 1 hour and 40 minutes later we arrived at Mayaguana Airport, leveled off at 1500 feet and about 4 miles left base Runway 06, we had the runway in sight via lighting from vehicles.” The crew continued with the landing procedures. The aircraft touch down approximately 300 feet from the threshold on runway 06, the pilot in command reported that prior to the nose gear making contact with the runway “the right wing hit an object (vehicle), causing the aircraft to veer out of control to the right eventually colliding with a second vehicle approximately 300 to 400 feet on the right side (southern) of Runway 06.” The impact of the right wing of the aircraft with the second vehicle, caused the right wing (outboard of the engine nacelle) and right fuel sealed wet wing tank to rupture releasing the aircraft fuel in that wing, which caused an explosion engulfing the vehicle in flames. The force of the impact with the second vehicle caused the right main gear to break away from the aircraft and it was flung ahead and to the left side of the runway approximately 200 feet from the point of impact with the truck. As the right main gear of the aircraft was no longer attached, the aircraft collapsed on its right side, slid onto the gravel south (right) of the runway and somewhere during this process, the nose gear also collapsed. The pilot immediately shut off the fuel valve of the aircraft and once the engines and the aircraft came to a stop, the three occupants evacuated the aircraft. The occupants of the aircraft did not sustain any visible injuries requiring medical attention or hospitalization. However, three (3) occupants of the second vehicle that was struck, were fatally injured. The airplane sustained substantial damages as a result of the impact and post impact crash sequence. The impact with the first vehicle occurred at approximately 427 feet from the threshold of runway 06 and at coordinates 28˚ 22’30”N and 073˚ 01’15’W. The flight was operated on an Instrument Flight Rules flight plan. Instrument Meteorological Conditions (night) prevailed at the time of the accident.

The crew was completing a local training flight at Santa Lucía AFB when the single engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances in an open field near the airfield. The aircraft was destroyed and both occupants were killed.

At 1339LT, the crew was cleared for takeoff from runway 32 at Tuxtla Gutierrez-Angel Albino Corzo Airport. During initial climb, after being cleared to climb to 12,500 feet, the crew informed ATC he was returning to the airport. Shortly later, the aircraft lost height and crashed in a field, bursting into flames. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 8 occupants were killed.