What happened
On March 10, 2019, a North American T-28B, registration N55500, was performing aerobatic maneuvers during an airshow at the Autódromo Pedro Cofiño in El Rodeo, Escuintla, Guatemala. During the flight sequence, the aircraft was operating at an extremely low altitude, estimated between 25 and 50 feet, which was significantly below the recommended safety margin of 1,500 feet for such maneuvers.
While executing a maneuver, the aircraft encountered trees in its flight path. The crew attempted to avoid the obstacles, but the low altitude and the aircraft's flight attitude made recovery impossible. The impact with the trees and the ground caused the aircraft to fragment completely. Although both the pilot and the passenger survived the initial impact, they succumbed to multiple traumatic injuries at medical facilities in Escuintla and Guatemala City a few hours later.
The investigation
The investigation conducted by the DGAC/UIA established that the aircraft was airworthy and possessed valid registration and airworthiness certificates, though evidence of preventive maintenance was not demonstrated. The aircraft's weight and balance were within normal operating limits, and the propeller deformation indicated that the engine was producing power at the moment of impact.
Investigators analyzed the pilot's medical condition and found that toxicology tests identified the presence of four different therapeutic drugs. These medications were not reported to medical evaluators, and their combined presence was noted as a factor that could impair the control and execution of complex aerobatic maneuvers. Additionally, the investigation noted that the passenger was not part of the flight crew, which is a safety concern during high-risk demonstrations.
Findings
- The late application of flight controls or the delayed decision to recover altitude and airspeed to avoid obstacles.
- The extremely low altitude during aerobatic maneuvers, which left no margin for error.
- The inability to avoid trees due to the aircraft's flight attitude and the high speed at the time of the maneuver.
- The presence of unrecorded therapeutic drugs in the pilot's system, potentially affecting operational performance.