Country
Guatemala
code

Petén

Crash of a IAI Arava 201 in Poptún

Date & Time: Dec 11, 1983
Type of aircraft:
IAI Arava 201
Operator:
Registration:
824
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
027
YOM:
1976
Location:
Poptún
Petén
Country:
Guatemala
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on landing for unknown reasons. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-1-DK in Yaxchibal: 7 killed

Date & Time: Nov 3, 1980
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Aero Express - Guatemala
Registration:
TG-BAC
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
14330/25775
YOM:
1944
Location:
Yaxchibal
Petén
Country:
Guatemala
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
Few minutes prior to its arrival at Flores Airport, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in a pasture located in Yaxchibal. All seven occupants were killed.

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

Date & Time: Feb 28, 1980
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Guatemala City - Poptún
Location:
Poptún
Petén
Country:
Guatemala
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
27
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
31
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-3 in Carmelita

Date & Time: Oct 18, 1979
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
TG-AXA
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
6053
YOM:
1942
Location:
Carmelita
Petén
Country:
Guatemala
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
A tire burst upon landing at Carmelita. The airplane went out of control, veered off runway and nosed over. There were no casualties.
Probable cause:
Loss of control on landing following a tire burst.

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.

Crash of a Beechcraft TC-45G Expeditor in Sayaxché: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 25, 1975
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor
Operator:
Gerardin Mazariegos Sanabria
Registration:
TG-AMM
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
AF-77
YOM:
1952
Location:
Sayaxché
Petén
Country:
Guatemala
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances. A pilot was killed while the second occupant was injured.

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:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Tikal - Guatemala City
MSN:
2582
YOM:
1943
Location:
Tikal
Petén
Country:
Guatemala
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
21
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
24
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.
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