Twin-Engine Aircraft Stalls and Crashes Shortly After Takeoff in Guatemala City (TG-CFE)

Accident Overview

On a flight departing from runway 01 at Guatemala City-La Aurora Airport, a twin-engine aircraft experienced a loss of control shortly after liftoff. While climbing to an altitude of 200 feet, the aircraft rolled left and right before stalling and crashing beside the runway approximately 550 meters from its end. The collision resulted in injuries to the copilot and four passengers, while the captain and seven other occupants were killed. The aircraft itself was completely destroyed.

Probable Cause

According to the official investigation, the accident was caused by an aerodynamic stall during the initial climb. This stall was a direct result of improper passenger seat allocation, which shifted the aircraft's center of gravity outside the permissible limits.

Contributing Factors

Several contributing factors were identified by investigators:

• Company Deficiencies: At the time of the accident, Atlantic Airlines did not have sufficiently trained administrative and operational personnel to ensure safe operations.
• Cabin Loading: The poor allocation of passengers inside the cabin negatively affected the aircraft's lift, leading to the stall. Due to the low altitude at which the stall occurred, recovery was impossible. The aircraft then collapsed vertically, with its weight supported by the engines and wings full of fuel.
• Crew Training: The copilot was not rated on this type of aircraft and could only assist the captain by reading the checklist during the emergency.
• Engine Performance: The engines were operating normally at the time of impact, consistent with takeoff conditions.
• Mechanical Status: No evidence of mechanical failure was found. The aircraft was operating normally until aerodynamic circumstances caused the stall and subsequent uncontrolled crash.