What happened
During the final approach to runway 25 at Útila Airport, the aircraft encountered difficult visibility conditions caused by the low position of the sun. This lighting condition obscured the crew's view, leading to a failure to recognize that the plane was at an insufficient altitude. As a result, the aircraft impacted the water surface approximately 50 meters away from the shore and roughly 300 meters before reaching the runway threshold.
Despite the impact, all 20 occupants were successfully evacuated from the wreckage without injury. The aircraft sustained damage that rendered it a total loss.
Findings
- The crew experienced significant visual impairment due to the low sun position during the approach phase.
- This solar glare prevented the crew from maintaining the necessary altitude for a safe landing.