17 fatalities

2002-03-14: Antonov AN-2 (CU-T1020) — Aerotaxi (Cuba) — Santa Clara, Cuba

Santa Clara, CubaFlight

On March 14, 2002, an Antonov AN-2 (registration CU-T1020) operated by Aerotaxi (Cuba) was involved in an aviation accident near Santa Clara, Cuba in flight. 17 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The detachment of the left upper wing due to exposure to strong winds caused the aircraft to enter an uncontrolled descent. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 1781201989Data APIEditorial standards

A charter flight traveling from Cienfuegos to Cayo Coco crashed near Santa Clara, resulting in the deaths of all 17 people on board.

What happened

On a charter flight operating between Cien-fuegos and Cayo Coco, a single-engine aircraft was cruising at an altitude of 3,000 feet when it entered an uncontrolled descent. The aircraft subsequently crashed into a prairie area situated near Santa Clara. The impact resulted in the total destruction of the plane.

There were 17 fatalities recorded in the accident, representing the entire occupancy of the flight. The passengers included six individuals from Canada, five from the United Kingdom, and two from Germany. The flight crew, consisting of four members, were all Cuban nationals.

Findings

Preliminary reports indicate that the aircraft was subjected to intense wind conditions during the flight. It is reported that the left upper wing detached from the airframe while the plane was encountering these strong winds, leading to the loss of control.

Probable cause

The detachment of the left upper wing due to exposure to strong winds caused the aircraft to enter an uncontrolled descent.