1 fatality

Fatal Accident on Gravel Runway (TG-AKA)

Flores-Mundo Maya (Santa Elena), GuatemalaLanding (descent or approach)

On September 30, 1977, a Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) (registration TG-AKA) operated by Aviateca was involved in an aviation accident near Flores-Mundo Maya (Santa Elena), Guatemala during landing or approach. One person was killed. 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)Source recordUpdated 2026-09-03Data APIEditorial standards

An airplane veered off a gravel runway after a left tire burst on touchdown. The left engine struck the ground, detaching a propeller blade that killed the captain. Three other occupants escaped with minor injuries.

Accident Description and Sequence of Events Following touchdown on a gravel runway, the aircraft's left tire burst. The pilot lost control of the airplane, which subsequently veered off the runway to the left. As the aircraft moved off the paved surface, the left engine struck the ground. This impact caused a propeller blade to detach from the engine and strike the cockpit. The airplane continued to roll for a few meters before coming to a complete halt. ## Casualties and Injuries The accident resulted in one fatality and three minor injuries. The captain was killed after being struck by the detached propeller blade. The three other occupants on board managed to escape the wreckage and sustained only minor injuries.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 30 Sept 1977 Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) accident near Flores-Mundo Maya (Santa Elena), Guatemala?

An airplane veered off a gravel runway after a left tire burst on touchdown. The left engine struck the ground, detaching a propeller blade that killed the captain. Three other occupants escaped with minor injuries.

Were there any fatalities in the 30 Sept 1977 Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 1 fatality.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 30 Sept 1977 involved a Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3), registration TG-AKA, operated by Aviateca, at Flores-Mundo Maya (Santa Elena), Guatemala.