On February 22, 1977, a Britten-Norman Islander (registration VP-HCD) operated by Maya Airways was involved in an aviation accident near Hill Bank, Belize in flight. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The aircraft experienced engine malfunctions that necessitated an emergency landing in a wooded area. 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.
A cargo flight resulted in a crash landing in a wooded area near Hill Bank following engine-related technical difficulties.
What happened
During a scheduled cargo operation, the aircraft experienced significant mechanical issues involving its engines. Due to these developing technical complications, the pilot decided to perform an emergency descent to reach the ground safely.
While attempting to manage the situation, the airplane impacted a wooded region situated in the vicinity of Hill Bank. The impact resulted in a crash landing that caused the aircraft to be damaged beyond repair. Despite the severity of the impact and the destruction of the airframe, the pilot was successfully rescued from the wreckage without reported fatalities.
Findings
The primary factor leading to the incident was the occurrence of technical problems with the engines during the flight.
Probable cause
The aircraft experienced engine malfunctions that necessitated an emergency landing in a wooded area.
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