Accident Overview
An aircraft operating a flight from Guatemala City to Tegucigalpa crashed into a residential area approximately 1,500 meters from the departure airport. The accident resulted in the destruction of the aircraft and several houses. All six occupants on board were killed, and 38 people on the ground sustained injuries.
Sequence of Events
Prior to departure, one of the aircraft’s engines and a generator failed. Passengers were disembarked, and the captain decided to proceed with the flight using only the three remaining engines. Less than one minute after takeoff, while climbing, the pilot reported a critical situation and requested an immediate return to the airport. While executing a last turn, the airplane lost altitude and crashed into the residential area, bursting into flames.
Probable Cause
It was determined that a second generator failed during initial climb for unknown reasons. Due to insufficient power, hydraulic pressure dropped below minimums, causing the airspeed to drop and the aircraft to stall. The fact that the aircraft was not correctly trimmed was considered as a contributing factor.