What happened
On January 10, 2011, a Cirrus SR20, registration N-431SR, was performing a landing approach at the Bahía de Santiago landing strip in the Department of Sololá, Guatemala. The flight was operating in a pattern around Lake Atitlán, descending from 7,500 feet to 6,000 feet to observe wind conditions and the state of the airfield.
As the aircraft transitioned from the base leg to the final approach, the crew experienced a sudden and significant loss of altitude while crossing the water near a treeline. The pilot attempted to compensate by pushing the nose down and increasing engine power. During this maneuver, the aircraft struck the ground with high force, bounced, and briefly regained flight. However, as the pilot applied full power to execute a go-around, the aircraft's nose pitched up, triggering a stall warning. The aircraft then entered a descent that led it into a stand of trees. The left wing struck tree branches, resulting in a subsequent crash.
The investigation
The DGAC/UIA investigation examined the flight sequence, the aircraft's mechanical condition, and the environmental factors at the time of the accident. The investigation reviewed the pilot's actions during the unstable approach and the impact of the terrain and vegetation on the flight path. The analysis focused on the aerodynamic behavior of the Cirrus SR20 during the transition from a high-sink rate descent to a full-power climb attempt.
Findings
- The aircraft experienced an excessive descent rate, potentially caused by a downward gust or microburst-like phenomenon.
- The aircraft's flight path was interrupted by a high-impact ground contact that caused the aircraft to bounce.
- During the attempt to climb away from the terrain, the aircraft reached a critical angle of attack, resulting in a stall warning.
- The aircraft lacked sufficient lift to clear the trees located on the edge of the landing area.
- The impact with trees caused the structural failure and subsequent crash of the aircraft.