What happened
The incident involved a Ryan B-1 Brougham operated by the Cuerpo de Aeronáutica Militar de Guatemala. The aircraft was conducting a flight over Guatemala City when it descended to an altitude deemed too low for safe operation in that environment. During this phase, the airframe collided with the roof of a residential structure. The impact caused the plane to crash, leading to the immediate loss of all four individuals on board. The fatalities included the pilot, the co-pilot, and two passengers.
Findings
The primary factor contributing to the accident was the aircraft's proximity to ground obstacles. By maintaining an altitude that was insufficient for the urban terrain, the crew failed to maintain adequate clearance from structures. This lack of vertical separation directly resulted in the collision with the house roof, which proved fatal for everyone aboard.