FlightFinder
Check my flight
14 fatalities

Fatal mountain collision during approach to Flores-Santa Elena (TG-TPA)

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

On November 1, 1996, an Embraer EMB-110 Bandeirante (registration TG-TPA) operated by Transportes Aéreos Profesionales Guatemalteca was involved in an aviation accident near Flores-Mundo Maya (Santa Elena), Guatemala during landing or approach. 14 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The aircraft struck terrain during a descent in adverse weather conditions. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A).

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-06-11Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft crashed into a mountainside 8 km from the runway threshold during a descent in adverse weather conditions, resulting in no survivors.

What happened

During an approach to the Flores-Santa Elena airport, the aircraft was operating under challenging meteorological conditions. While the flight was descending at an altitude of approximately 900 feet, the plane collided with a mountain slope. The impact occurred at a distance of 8 km from the runway threshold.

There were 14 fatalities recorded in the accident, involving all individuals on board. The passengers included 13 Guatemalan nationals and one Mexican national.

Findings

  • The descent was conducted amidst poor weather conditions.
  • The collision took place while the aircraft was at a relatively low altitude of 900 feet.

Probable cause

The aircraft struck terrain during a descent in adverse weather conditions.

More accident analyses