Runway excursion and residential crash at Guatemala City-La Aurora Airport

6 fatalities • Guatemala City-La Aurora, Guatemala • Landing (descent or approach)

A cargo flight operated by Lineas Aéreas Mayas overran the runway at Guatemala City, resulting in a collision with residential structures and multiple fatalities.

What happened

A cargo flight operated by Lineas Aéreas Mayas, traveling from Miami-Intl Airport to Lima with a scheduled stop in Guatemala City, experienced a runway excursion upon arrival at Guatemala City-La Aurora Airport. Following the landing on runway 19, the crew engaged the spoilers and applied reverse thrust on engines number two and three. Due to the wet runway surface, the aircraft failed to decelerate sufficiently within the available runway length.

The aircraft exited the paved surface, breached a perimeter fence, and descended an embankment. The sequence concluded when the plane struck several houses located near the airport perimeter. The accident resulted in six fatalities among residents on the ground, while the three crew members and seven individuals on the ground sustained injuries.

Findings

  • The presence of moisture on the runway surface contributed to the loss of braking effectiveness.
  • The aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining runway distance despite the deployment of reverse thrust and spoilers.

Probable cause

The aircraft failed to stop on a wet runway, leading to an overrun and subsequent impact with residential buildings.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1995-04-28 Douglas DC-8 accident near Guatemala City-La Aurora, Guatemala?

A cargo flight operated by Lineas Aéreas Mayas overran the runway at Guatemala City, resulting in a collision with residential structures and multiple fatalities.

Were there any fatalities in the 1995-04-28 Douglas DC-8 accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 6 fatalities.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1995-04-28 involved a Douglas DC-8, registration N43UA, operated by Millon Air, at Guatemala City-La Aurora, Guatemala.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The aircraft failed to stop on a wet runway, leading to an overrun and subsequent impact with residential buildings.

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