What happened
On June 11, 2011, an Air Tractor AT-502B, registration N502BB, was engaged in agricultural spraying operations at Finca "El Español" in the municipality of Tiquisate, Escuintla, Guatemala. During the flight operations, the aircraft crashed at the farm location.
The investigation
The investigation conducted by the DGAC/UIA examined the meteorological conditions at the time of the accident. Records from the Retalhuleu station indicated that between 11:00 and 13:00 local time, the area was experiencing high temperatures, ranging from 32°C to 34°C. The weather was characterized by low visibility due to haze (bruma) and active volcanic activity from the Santa Maria volcano. The investigation also reviewed the aircraft's maintenance and airworthiness records, noting the aircraft was operating under a restricted category for agricultural use.
Findings
- The aircraft sustained substantial damage during the impact.
- Meteorological conditions included reduced horizontal visibility due to haze.
- The operation took place during a period of high ambient temperatures and volcanic activity in the region.