Aircraft crash near Quiriguá during unauthorized flight

6 fatalities • Quirigua, Guatemala • Landing (descent or approach)

A flight carrying six people crashed near a Guatemalan landing strip while transporting illegal cargo. The aircraft entered national airspace without a flight plan.

What happened

During an unauthorized flight into Guatemalan airspace, an aircraft crashed a short distance from the landing strip at Quiriguá. The aircraft was operating without a filed flight plan and had entered the country's airspace without official permission. At the time of the impact, the aircraft was carrying two crew members and four passengers, along with a heavy cargo load of approximately 3 tons of cocaine. Upon striking the ground, the plane caught fire. All six fatalities were recorded among the occupants.

Findings

Investigations by Guatemalan authorities revealed that the aircraft was operating under a fraudulent identity. While the plane was being operated under the false registration N500, its actual registration was identified as HK-750. The aircraft, an unidentified model, was involved in an illegal smuggling operation. The primary factor in the unauthorized entry was the failure to file a flight plan or seek clearance prior to entering the region.

Probable cause

The aircraft entered unauthorized airspace without a flight plan while engaged in an illegal smuggling operation.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1991-10-11 Curtiss C-46 Commando accident near Quirigua, Guatemala?

A flight carrying six people crashed near a Guatemalan landing strip while transporting illegal cargo. The aircraft entered national airspace without a flight plan.

Were there any fatalities in the 1991-10-11 Curtiss C-46 Commando accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 6 fatalities.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1991-10-11 involved a Curtiss C-46 Commando, registration HK-750, operated by LANSA Colombia - Lineas Aéreas Nacionales, at Quirigua, Guatemala.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The aircraft entered unauthorized airspace without a flight plan while engaged in an illegal smuggling operation.

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