Central America

After landing on runway 29 at Cabo San Lucas Airport, the crew initiated the breaking procedure when the airplane started to deviate to the right. It veered off runway, impacted a ditch, lost its undercarriage and made an almost 180 turn before coming to rest on its belly. All occupants were quickly rescued and there were no injuries.

The twin engine airplane took off from Roatán-Juan Manuel Gálvez Airport Runway 07 shortly after sunset. While in initial climb, it entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed into the sea about one km offshore. Twelve occupants were killed and five others were rescued. It is believed that the crew encountered mechanical problems after takeoff.

The single engine airplane departed La Parota, Michoacán, on a private trip with seven people on board. While cruising over mountainous terrain, the airplane went out of control and crashed on the slope of a wooded hill, bursting into flames. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all seven occupants were killed.

Two minutes after takeoff from Les Cayes-Antoine Simon Airport Runway 08, the twin engine airplane entered a right turn then lost altitude and crashed in a wooded area located about one km southeast of the airfield. The airplane was destroyed and both pilots were killed. There was no fire.

About 3 months before the accident, the twin-engine airplane underwent an annual maintenance inspection during which the mechanic identified numerous discrepancies with both engines and the airframe. The airplane was not subsequently approved for flight and the owner was provided a list of the discrepancies. The purpose of the accident flight was to relocate the airplane to another airport where the pilot planned to have the discrepancies addressed. The mechanic reported that he had advised the pilot that he needed to apply for a ferry permit from the FAA in order to complete the accident flight, but there was no evidence that the pilot had obtained one. On the day of the accident flight, air traffic control data showed that the pilot departed and climbed the airplane to about 1,500 ft mean sea level (msl). About 2 miles from the departure airport the pilot advised air traffic control of his intent to return to the departure runway due to a vibration of the right engine. The controller immediately cleared the pilot to enter the left downwind for the departure runway. The airplane then turned to the left and began a descent toward the left downwind leg of the traffic pattern. When the airplane was about a mile from the airport, the pilot reported that the airplane had an “engine failure” and that he intended to land on the departure runway, but in the opposite direction. Recorded flight track data showed that the airplane then turned directly toward the approach end of that runway and that during the final 30 seconds of track data, the airplane’s altitude and groundspeed decreased rapidly. Surveillance video captured the final few seconds of flight, and showed the airplane in a steep vertical descent and a right roll. The airplane impacted a residential area into trees, powerlines, and propane fuel tanks. After the impact, the airplane sustained significant postimpact fire damage. The airplane was destroyed and the pilot was killed. One person on the ground was slightly injured.

Following an uneventful flight from Tuxtla Gutiérrez-Francisco Sarabia Airport, the crew initiated the descent to Palenque Airport in limited visibility. On approach, the twin engine airplane impacted the slope of a wooded terrain located in the Cerro Norte about 12 km southwest of the destination airport. The airplane disintegrated on impact and all occupants were killed, among them Juan Pablo Montes de Oca, Federal Deputy who was flying to Palenque with his family.
Crew:
Roberto Villanueva Valdez, pilot,
Carlos Alberto Culebro Esquinca, copilot.
Passengers:
Juan Pablo Montes de Oca,
Sofía Montes de Oca, Juan Pablo's daughter,
Pablo Montes de Oca, Juan Pablo's son,
Guillermina Rincón Cruz, Juan Pablo's wife,
Rosalía, Juan Pablo's sister,
Daniela, Juan Pablo's nephew,
Eduardo, juan Pablo's nephew.

The flight was for commercial purposes and had a destination of Fresh Creek Airport (MYAF), Fresh Creek, Andros, Bahamas. The pilot in command reported that upon contacting Nassau air traffic control, he requested a runway 14 departure from taxiway Bravo, but his request was denied. He subsequently requested a departure from taxiway Lima, which was granted by air traffic control. The pilot advised that upon receiving takeoff clearance from air traffic control, he entered the active runway and backtracked for additional room before commencing take off roll. After adding takeoff power and accelerating for some distance down the runway, shortly after, the pilot observed the left manifold pressure starting to drop and the aircraft started to “pull to the left”. Recognizing that the a problem was arising, the pilot added additional power to the right engine and continued takeoff roll but after achieving some lift, the pilot reported to observe the aircraft stall and it was unable to clear the inner layer of perimeter fencing (height of approximately 12 feet), at a distance of approximately 820 feet from the approach end of threshold of runway 32. The aircraft impacted the inner layer of perimeter fencing, hitting the surface and travelling for some 57 feet on a heading of approximately 123° before impacting the second outer layer of perimeter fencing. The aircraft’s trajectory continued in that general direction travelling for an additional 216 feet, sliding across Coral Harbour Road before coming to rest in a swampy area. The pilot advised that shortly after the aircraft came to rest, he observed flames from the left side of the aircraft which prompted him to make a hasty exit from the aircraft. While exiting the aircraft, the pilot observed flames on the outside, around the aircraft, and it was during his attempt to vacate the area, he received burns to the face. As soon as he was able to vacate the general area of the downed aircraft, the pilot observed an explosion and the aircraft continued to burn.

On final approach to Tepic-Amado Nervo Airport, the twin engine airplane went out of control and crashed in a field located west of the airport, bursting into flames. The airplane was destroyed and all four occupants were killed.

On final approach to Saltillo-Plan de Guadalupe Airport Runway 35, the single engine airplane entered a sudden left turn, impacted the ground and crashed in an open field. The wreckage was found about 200 metres short of runway threshold. The airplane was destroyed upon impact and all four occupants were killed.

The airplane departed Canouan Airport at 1427LT on a local flight, carrying apparently three passengers and one pilot. About six minutes after takeoff, the airplane disappeared from radar screens and crashed into the sea two minutes later, at 1435LT. It is unclear if the wreckage was found. The airplane's operations were apparently monitored by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for some time and it is believed that the pilot may have switched off the transponder after takeoff. Illegal operation suspected.