Summary
On October 19, 2019, at approximately 09:27 local time, a Cessna 172K aircraft, registration N7381G, crashed in the Cantón El Progreso area of Finca San Cristóbal, Santa Tecla, La Libertad, near El Boquerón on the San Salvador volcano. The accident resulted in two fatalities and two minor injuries.
Aircraft and Operator Information
The aircraft was a Cessna 172K, serial number 17259081, manufactured by Cessna Aircraft Company. It was painted yellow and held a normal category airworthiness certificate (the certificate was not found or not presented by the operator). The operator was Escuela Centro de Adiestramiento Aéreo Avanzado (CAAA). The aircraft was insured under policy number 1000099, valid until September 14, 2020.
Accident Narrative
The flight departed from runway 33 of Ilopango Airport at 09:14 local time with fuel for 3 hours 30 minutes and four persons on board: a pilot-in-command (commercial pilot with instructor, instrument, and multi-engine ratings; 604 flight hours; Salvadoran), a student pilot (private pilot license) in the left seat, and the student's parents in the rear seats. The intended route was to climb to 5,500 feet and proceed to Lake Coatepeque, west of the country, to fly above a cloud layer reported between 4,000 and 5,000 feet by other pilots.
A similar flight departed minutes earlier on the same route but climbed to 3,500 feet, where visual flight rules conditions prevailed. Communication between the two aircraft continued until the accident aircraft reported entering clouds at 4,000 feet. The aircraft then deviated 96° southwest from its intended heading. Survivors in the front seats stated that upon entering the cloud layer, they lost all visual references and saw only white, and the heading deviation was imperceptible.
After exiting the clouds, the pilot-in-command observed terrain and antennas to both sides of the flight path. He initiated a right turn to gain altitude and reverse course (a 180-degree turn). According to the other crew member, during this turn the aircraft entered a stall due to an excessive rate of climb, causing a violent descent. The wreckage came to rest on the eastern slope of the San Salvador volcano, near El Boquerón National Park, at an elevation of approximately 1,694 meters above sea level.
Injuries and Damage
Injuries: Two passengers sustained fatal injuries; two crew members received minor injuries. The aircraft was completely destroyed. Ground damage included spinach, parsley, and banana crops at the impact site.
Investigation
The accident investigation is being conducted by the Agencia Centroamericana para la Seguridad Aeronáutica (ACSA) in cooperation with the Departamento de Investigación de Accidentes e Incidentes de Aviación of the Autoridad de Aviación Civil de El Salvador. This provisional statement contains factual findings and may be updated as the investigation progresses.