Central America

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.

The pilot, sole on board, was completing a local post maintenance test flight out from Aguadilla-Rafael Hernández Airport. After takeoff, the twin engine airplane climbed to an altitude of about 1,600 feet when the pilot encountered an unexpected situation and elected to return. Following a 180 turn, the airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in a residential area located near the airport, bursting into flames. The airplane was destroyed and the pilot was killed.

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.

Shortly after takeoff from Panama City-Marcos A. Gelabert Airport Runway 01, while climbing to a height of about 300 feet, the twin engine airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in a grassy area located about 700 metres north of the airport, bursting into flames. One occupant was killed and a second was seriously injured.

The airplane departed Toluca-Licenciado Adolfo López Mateos International Airport on a positioning flight (Ambulance) to Cuernavaca, carrying two doctors and two pilots. After landing on runway 20 at Cuernavaca Airport, the crew initiated the braking procedure but the airplane was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran, went down a steep embankment and crashed in bushes, bursting into flames. The airplane was totally destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all four occupants were killed. It is believed that the airplane landed too far down the runway, causing the landing distance to be insufficient.

Parked at Placencia Airport, the single engine airplane was stolen by two people, apparently to conduct illegal activities. Shortly after a night takeoff from runway 06, the airplane collided with an electrical transformer and crashed in a wooded area located about 900 metres past the runway end, bursting into flames. The airplane was totally destroyed and both occupants were killed.