What happened
On a scheduled transport mission for personnel, an aircraft operated by the Dirección Nacional de Aviación Civil (DINACIA) was performing a takeoff from Formosa-El Picú Airport at roughly 15:50 local time. The flight was carrying three crew members and four passengers. During the takeoff roll, the plane traveled approximately 800 meters along the runway but failed to gain sufficient altitude, lifting only a few meters above the surface near the end of the strip.
Following this insufficient climb, the aircraft struck a runway end marker, a telephone pole, and the perimeter wire fencing. The plane made two separate contacts with the ground before crashing into a small hill, where it subsequently caught fire. The accident resulted in six fatalities occurring at the scene. One crew member, the copilot, sustained severe burns during the impact; although he survived the initial crash, he passed away several months later due to his injuries.
Findings
Investigations into the crash identified several critical factors that prevented the aircraft from reaching its required takeoff velocity. The primary cause was insufficient engine power during the takeoff run. This loss of performance was attributed to premature ignition and detonation within one or both engines, which was triggered by the use of spark plugs that were not suitable for that specific engine model.
Additionally, investigators noted a likely drop in engine RPM caused by the unnoticed slipping of propeller controls. Other contributing elements included:
- The aircraft was operating at a weight exceeding its maximum authorized takeoff limit.
- Environmental and runway conditions at the time of the operation played a role in the accident.