Crash of a Saab 340A in Flores

Date & Time: Apr 16, 2023 at 0900 LT
Type of aircraft:
Saab 340
Operator:
Registration:
TG-TAI
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Cancún – Flores
MSN:
074
YOM:
1986
Flight number:
TGU211
Location:
Flores-Mundo Maya (Santa Elena)
Petén
Country:
Guatemala
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On approach to Flores-Mundo Maya Airport, the crew completed the pre-landing checklist and after the landing gear were selected down, the crew did not receive a down and locked indication. In agreement with ATC, the crew performed two low passes over the airport and ATC confirmed that the landing gear were down and did not notice any abnormalities. After this sequence, the crew decided to land. After touchdown, the right main gear collapsed. The airplane veered off runway and came to rest. All 17 occupants evacuated safely.

Crash of a Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain in Cobán

Date & Time: Apr 3, 2022
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain
Operator:
Registration:
PT-ECU
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Illegal (smuggling)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
Cobán
Alta Verapaz
Country:
Guatemala
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in bushes near Cobán, Guatemala, while engaged in an illegal flight. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and no one was found on the scene. The registration seems to be false.

Crash of a BAe 125-700A in the Sierra del Lacandón National Park: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 19, 2020 at 0500 LT
Type of aircraft:
BAe 125
Operator:
Registration:
N326TD
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Illegal (smuggling)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
257178
YOM:
1982
Location:
Sierra del Lacandón National Park
Petén
Country:
Guatemala
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew was completing an illegal flight when the aircraft crashed under unknown circumstances in the Sierra del Lacandón National Park. Upon impact, the aircraft lost its both wings and came to rest with its tail separated. All three occupants were found alive but seriously injured. One of them died from his injuries few hours later. The registration N326TD was probably false.

Crash of a Rockwell Gulfstream 695 Jetprop 980 in San José La Máquina

Date & Time: Dec 16, 2020
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Gulfstream 695 Jetprop 980
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Illegal (smuggling)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
San José La Máquina
Suchitepéquez
Country:
Guatemala
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in a banana plantation near San José La Máquina. No one was found in the plane that was used for an illegal flight (contraband). The exact model and registration unknown.

Crash of a Rockwell Sabreliner 65 near El Chico: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 9, 2020
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Sabreliner 65
Operator:
Registration:
XA-VD?
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Illegal (smuggling)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
465-30
YOM:
1980
Location:
El Chico
Retalhuleu
Country:
Guatemala
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew was apparently trying to land on an illegal airstrip when the aircraft struck trees and crashed, coming to rest upside down. A load of narcotics was found on board as well as a dead body. The aircraft registration needs to be confirmed - XA-VD?.

Crash of a Quest Kodiak 100 in Guatemala City: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 8, 2020 at 1233 LT
Type of aircraft:
Quest Kodiak 100
Operator:
Cachapoyas Investment
Registration:
TG-SMT
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Humanitarian
Survivors:
No
Site:
City
Schedule:
Guatemala City – Cobán
MSN:
100-0080
YOM:
2012
Location:
Guatemala City-La Aurora
Guatemala
Country:
Guatemala
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
10214
Circumstances:
The airplane was engaged in an humanitarian flight from Guatemala City to Cobán, carrying one pilot, one passenger and a load consisting of food and essential products. After takeoff from Guatemala City-La Aurora runway 02, while in initial climb, the airplane entered an uncontrolled descent, impacted trees and high tension wires before crashing in the 4th Avenue located in the Zone 9 district, approximately 980 metres from the end of runway 02. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and both occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The following contributing factors were identified:
- The demand for food and the population's urgent need for aid likely led the crew to make the erroneous decision to increase the load and materials for transport.
- The aircraft exceeded the permissible flight load capacity, 8,055 lbs instead 7,255 lbs.
- The probable shift of the cargo toward the rear of the aircraft negatively affected the center of gravity, disrupting the minimum weight and balance requirements, which prevented the aircraft from climbing and maintaining proper flight.
Final Report:

Crash of a Gulfstream GIII in the Laguna del Tigre National Park: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 29, 2020
Type of aircraft:
Gulfstream GIII
Operator:
Registration:
N461AR
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Illegal (smuggling)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
384
YOM:
1983
Location:
Laguna del Tigre National Park
Petén
Country:
Guatemala
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Aircraft flight hours:
10920
Circumstances:
Probably engaged in an illegal flight, the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances in an isolated and swampy area located in the Laguna del Tigre National Park. The wreckage was found on November 2 about 7 km south from the Mexican border. Two dead bodies were found and the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a BAe 125-800A near Alta Verapaz: 4 killed

Date & Time: Sep 23, 2020
Type of aircraft:
BAe 125
Operator:
Registration:
XB-PYZ
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Illegal (smuggling)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
258018
YOM:
1984
Location:
Alta Verapaz
Alta Verapaz
Country:
Guatemala
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Engaged in an illegal flight, the crew was attempting to land on a remote airstrip located in the region of Alta Verapaz. In unclear circumstances, the aircraft struck trees and crashed in a wooded area, bursting into flames. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire and all four occupants were killed.

Crash of a BAE 125-700A near La Libertad: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 19, 2020
Type of aircraft:
BAe 125
Operator:
Registration:
N700NW
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Illegal (smuggling)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
257063
YOM:
1979
Location:
La Libertad
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 aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances in a wooded area located near La Libertad and was totally destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire. Both pilots were killed. Guatemalan Authorities reported the aircraft was engaged in a contraband mission and a load of 762 kilos of cocaine was found.

Crash of a BAe 125-F400B in Caballo Blanco

Date & Time: Mar 22, 2020
Type of aircraft:
BAe 125
Operator:
Registration:
XB-PNK
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Illegal (smuggling)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
25227
YOM:
1970
Location:
Caballo Blanco
Retalhuleu
Country:
Guatemala
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Probably engaged in an illegal contraband flight, the crew attempted to land on a road when the aircraft crashed against a vehicle parked in a sugarcane field and awaiting for the it, bursting into flames. No one was found on site. The airplane was damaged beyond repair. The registration XN-PNK is false, the older one was XB-OUF.
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