What happened
On October 17, 2012, an Aero Commander AT-301, registration TG-ARI, was involved in a fatal accident in the municipality of Ocós, Department of San Marcos, Guatemala. The aircraft was operating in the vicinity of Aldea Limones, specifically near Finca El Alamo, when it impacted the ground. The accident resulted in two fatalities, involving both the pilot and the co-pilot.
The investigation
The investigation conducted by the DGAC/UIA examined the aircraft's maintenance history, meteorological conditions, and the flight's final moments. Records indicated that the aircraft's engine and propeller had undergone annual inspections and maintenance in June 2012, with recent work on fuel filters and oil changes completed in April 2012. Meteorological data from the Tecun Umán station, the nearest reporting station, showed that between 12:00 and 14:00 hours on the day of the accident, visibility was good (greater than 10 km) with temperatures around 31-33°C. However, by 14:00 hours, cloud cover had increased to broken layers at 1,600 feet.
Findings
- The aircraft was an Aero Commander AT-301 with registration TG-ARI.
- The accident occurred in the San Marcos region of Guatemala.
- There were two fatalities.
- Meteorological conditions at the time of the accident included broken cloud layers at low altitudes (1,600 feet) and winds from the west at 10 knots.
- The investigation established that the impact with the terrain was the primary factor in the destruction of the aircraft.