On February 19, 1997, an IAI 1124 Westwind (registration YV-160CP) operated by Inversiones Venezuela was involved in an aviation accident near Guatemala City-La Aurora, Guatemala during landing or approach. 5 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The aircraft struck terrain after the crew descended below the minimum descent altitude during a night approach. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A).
An aircraft crashed into a mountainside during its night approach to Guatemala City, resulting in no survivors.
What happened
During a nighttime descent toward Guatemala City-La Aurora Airport, an aircraft struck the side of a mountain. The impact occurred approximately 14.4 km before reaching the runway. The force of the collision caused the aircraft to disintegrate upon hitting the terrain. There were five fatalities among the occupants of the flight.
Findings
Investigations into the accident determined that the crew was operating at an altitude lower than required for the approach. The incident is classified as controlled flight into terrain, occurring because the aircraft descended below the minimum descent altitude (MDA). The specific reasons why the crew failed to maintain the necessary altitude remain undetermined.
Probable cause
The aircraft struck terrain after the crew descended below the minimum descent altitude during a night approach.