Central America

On September 19, 2010, at 1440 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA31-350, N84859, registered to Spirit Air Inc, and operated by Pioneer Air Service was on initial climb out when the lower half of the main cabin door came open. The pilot reversed his course and returned to the departure airport, landing on runway 27. The right main landing gear tire blew out on the landing roll. The airplane went off the right side of the runway, struck a tree, caught fire and came to a complete stop. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight plan was filed. The commercial pilot and five passengers were not injured and the airplane received substantial damage. The flight originated from Bimini Airport, South Bimini Island, Bahamas, at 1435, and was operated in accordance with 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135.

The pilot was performing an ambulance flight from Kingstown-E. T. Joshua Airport to Canouan. En route, while cruising off Bequia Island, the twin engine aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in the sea. Some debris were found the following day but no trace of the pilot.

The twin engine aircraft was chartered by the State of Coahuila to conduct a survey flight of the area around Piedras Negras following recent floods and damages caused by hurricane Alex. The aircraft departed Piedras Negras Airport at 0930LT bound to the northwest. En route, while performing an aerial inspection of the area around the La Fragua Lake, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in a field, bursting into flames. The wreckage was found 600 metres south of the La Fragua Dam, about 35 km northwest of Piedras Negras Airport. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire and all 8 occupants were killed.
Crew:
Juan Roberto Rendón, pilot,
Guillermo Ainsle Ibarra, copilot.
Passengers:
Horacio del Bosque Dávila, Coahuila's Secretary of Public works,
José Manuel Maldonado Maldonado, Mayor of Piedras Negras,
Ricardo Garza Bermea, Director of the Piedras Negras Civil Protection,
David Rey Chavira Jiménez,
Guillermo Ainsle Montemayor,
Alfonso Ainsle Montemayor.

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.

Shortly after takeoff from Felipe Carrillo Puerto Airport, while in initial climb, the single engine airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed nose first in a wooded area located past the runway end. The aircraft was destroyed and all 9 occupants were killed, among them 7 members of the campaign team of the candidate for Governor of Quintana Roo, Roberto Borge.

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.

The aircraft departed Mexico City-Benito Juarez Airport on a cargo service to Los Angeles with an intermediate stop in Monterrey, carrying five crew members. On final approach to Monterrey-General Mariano Escobedo Airport by night, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with CB's and sky broken at 600 feet. On short final, while at a distance of 2 km from the runway threshold, the crew was cleared to land on runway 11. Shortly later, the aircraft rolled to the left then crashed on a motorway located 700 metres short of runway. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all five crew members were killed as well as one people in a car.

On approach to Bahías de Huatulco Airport, the crew was unable to lower the landing gear. It was decided to perform a wheels up landing. The aircraft landed on its belly then slid for few dozen metres, veered off runway and came to rest, bursting into flames. All six occupants escaped uninjured but the aircraft was destroyed by fire. Among the passenger was Ulises Ruiz Ortiz, Governor of the State of Oaxaca.

Three minutes after takeoff from Tegucigalpa-Toncontin Airport, while in initial climb, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed few km from the airport, bursting into flames. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all three occupants were killed.

The crew was apparently completing a cargo flight from Florida. Upon landing at Jacmel Airport, the undercarriage collapsed. The twin engine aircraft went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest against trees. Both occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.