No fatalities

Bird Strike During Takeoff Leads to Emergency Landing in Swampy Area (TG-ATA)

Flores-Mundo Maya (Santa Elena), GuatemalaTakeoff (climb)

On July 26, 1978, a Douglas DC-3 (registration TG-ATA) operated by Aviateca was involved in an aviation accident near Flores-Mundo Maya (Santa Elena), Guatemala during takeoff. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Bird strike on takeoff. 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
Aircraft registered TG-ATA
Aircraft registered TG-ATA. Photo: RuthAS / CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

An aircraft suffered a bird strike during takeoff, forcing the crew to attempt an emergency landing. The plane crash-landed in a swampy area past the runway end. No injuries were reported, but the aircraft was written off.

Incident Overview During takeoff, the aircraft encountered a bird strike, which prompted the flight crew to initiate an emergency landing. The aircraft ultimately crash-landed in a swampy area located beyond the end of the runway. ## Outcome and Damage The incident resulted in no injuries to the occupants. However, the aircraft sustained significant damage and was subsequently written off. ## Probable Cause The official investigation identified the bird strike during takeoff as the probable cause of the accident. The source does not provide specific details regarding the aircraft type, registration, operator, date, or location.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 26 Jul 1978 Douglas DC-3 accident near Flores-Mundo Maya (Santa Elena), Guatemala?

An aircraft suffered a bird strike during takeoff, forcing the crew to attempt an emergency landing. The plane crash-landed in a swampy area past the runway end. No injuries were reported, but the aircraft was written off.

Were there any fatalities in the 26 Jul 1978 Douglas DC-3 accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 26 Jul 1978 involved a Douglas DC-3, registration TG-ATA, operated by Aviateca, at Flores-Mundo Maya (Santa Elena), Guatemala.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

Bird strike on takeoff