What happened
On October 10, 2011, an Air Tractor AT-502B, registration N6082P, was engaged in an agricultural flight operation near Finca Santa Rosita, located in the municipality of Pueblo Nuevo Tiquisate, Escuintla, Guatemala. During the course of the operation, the aircraft crashed at the site.
The investigation
The investigation conducted by the DGAC/UIA examined the aircraft's maintenance history, the meteorological conditions at the time of the accident, and the flight environment. Maintenance logs for the aircraft showed recent 100-hour inspections and propeller maintenance performed throughout 201 and 2011, with no reported defects or leaks noted in the final entries prior to the accident.
Meteorological data from the Puerto San José station, used to infer conditions at the crash site, indicated that between 06:00 and 08:00 hours on the morning of the accident, winds were calm and visibility was greater than 10 kilometers. However, the area was characterized by the presence of cumulonimbus clouds at altitudes between 2,500 and 9,000 feet, with precipitation reported in the southeast and south-southeast sectors of the region.
Findings
- The aircraft was performing an agricultural mission.
- Meteorological conditions included the presence of cumulonimbus clouds with precipitation in the vicinity of the flight path.
- The aircraft's maintenance records indicated that recent inspections of the engine and propeller had been completed according to manufacturer specifications.