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 Learjet 35 in Santa Marta

Date & Time: Sep 21, 2020
Type of aircraft:
Learjet 35
Operator:
Registration:
XA-DOC
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Illegal (smuggling)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
Santa Marta
Cayo
Country:
Belize
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing an illegal flight in Central America and was apparently attempting to land on a remote area near Santa Marta. The accident occurred in unclear circumstances and nobody was found in the wreckage. The registration XA-DOC is false and the MSN of the airplane remains unknown.

Crash of a Dassault Falcon 200 in Palenque

Date & Time: Aug 29, 2020 at 2100 LT
Type of aircraft:
Dassault Falcon 20
Operator:
Registration:
XB-OAP
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Illegal (smuggling)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
504
YOM:
1986
Location:
Palenque
Chiapas
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
In unknown circumstances, the crew made a belly landing near Palenque Airport. By night, the aircraft crash landed in an open field and came to rest. The occupant(s) was/were not found but law enforcement officials found 3 tons of cocaine on board. The aircraft seems to be written off.

Crash of a Rockwell 690B Turbo Commander in Ahuas

Date & Time: Aug 23, 2020
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Grand Commander 690
Operator:
Registration:
XB-DRA
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Illegal (smuggling)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
11423
YOM:
1977
Location:
Ahuas
Gracias a Dios
Country:
Honduras
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft was engagted in an illegal contraband flight when it crash landed in an open field located near Ahuas. No one was found on site and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. A load of cocaine was found on board.

Crash of a Beechcraft B200 Super King Air near Brus Laguna

Date & Time: Jul 20, 2020
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft 200 Super King Air
Operator:
Registration:
N740P
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Illegal (smuggling)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
BB-1218
YOM:
1985
Location:
Brus Laguna
Gracias a Dios
Country:
Honduras
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Engaged in an illegal flight, the twin engine airplane landed on a dirt road located about 35 km southwest of Brus Laguna. The nose gear collapsed and the aircraft came to rest, damaged beyond repair. No one was found on site and a load of 806 kilos of cocaine was seized.
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