What happened
During a mission to airdrop bales of marijuana onto a beach, a Guatemalan-registered aircraft engaged in several low-altitude passes over the shoreline. During one of these maneuvers, the propeller made contact with the sand, resulting in the propeller being torn from the engine. Following this mechanical failure, the aircraft traveled approximately 600 feet before performing a gear-up landing on the beach.
Following the impact, the crew attempted to ignite the wreckage in an effort to destroy the evidence, but these attempts were unsuccessful. The incident resulted in fatalities and injuries, though specific numbers were not provided by witnesses.
Findings
Investigation into the crash identified several contributing factors related to the flight operations. The pilot was performing low-altitude passes under dark night conditions. It was determined that the pilot in command misjudged the aircraft's altitude during these maneuvers, which led to the propeller striking the terrain and subsequent separation of the propeller system from the aircraft. The landing itself was completed with the landing gear retracted.