2 fatalities

1953-12-15: Curtiss C-46 Commando (TG-AQA) — Aviateca — Tecpán, Guatemala

Tecpán, GuatemalaFlight

On December 15, 1953, a Curtiss C-46 Commando (registration TG-AQA) operated by Aviateca was involved in an aviation accident near Tecpán, Guatemala in flight. 2 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The crew maintained a flight altitude that was too low to safely clear the nearby mountain terrain. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 1781252645Data APIEditorial standards

A twin-engine aircraft crashed into a mountain slope near Tecpán, resulting in the deaths of both crew members.

What happened

On an unidentified date, a twin engine aircraft was performing a cruise at 8,000 feet when it struck the terrain of Mt Tecpán. The collision occurred approximately 3.5 km northwest of the city of Tecpán. The force of the impact resulted in the total destruction of the airframe.

There were two fatalities recorded during the accident, as both members of the flight crew perished in the crash.

Findings

Preliminary observations indicate that the aircraft was operating at an altitude that was inadequate for navigating the mountainous topography of the region. The primary factor in the collision was the insufficient flight altitude relative to the height of the mountain slope.

Probable cause

The crew maintained a flight altitude that was too low to safely clear the nearby mountain terrain.