What happened
On May 15, 2025, an Air Tractor Inc. aircraft, registration TG-HAM, was performing agricultural spraying operations at the Finca Santa Rosa landing strip in Tiquisate, Escuintla, Guatemala. The pilot had been conducting flight operations since 5:00 a.m. and had completed ten successful sorties prior to the accident.
During the eleventh flight of the day, the aircraft departed the strip while carrying an excessive load of fuel and agrochemical. As the pilot attempted to manage the weight distribution, the aircraft's angle of attack increased significantly. This maneuver pushed the wings toward a critical angle of attack, resulting in a loss of lift. In an attempt to recover, the pilot applied maximum engine power and released the agrochemical payload to reduce weight and increase airspeed. However, the aircraft entered a low-altitude stall. During the descent, the tail of the aircraft struck an oil palm tree, causing the aircraft to invert and impact the ground.
The investigation
The investigation conducted by the DGAC/UIA established that the aircraft was airworthy, properly maintained, and possessed a valid agricultural airworthiness certificate. The pilot held a valid license appropriate for the type of operation being performed.
Technical analysis of the wreckage revealed that the engine was functioning at the time of impact, as evidenced by residual fuel in the fuel control unit (FCU) and the position of the propeller blades, which were not in the feathered position. The investigation also noted that the aircraft's hopper contained a large amount of agrochemical at the time of the crash, which had been scattered across the site upon impact. The investigation found that the pilot's physical and psychological condition were acceptable, and the aircraft's safety harnesses functioned correctly, allowing the pilot to exit the wreckage uninjured.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was that the aircraft departed with excessive weight, which shifted the center of gravity and induced a critical angle of attack.
- Ground personnel failed to notice that the combined weight of the fuel and agrochemical exceeded the aircraft's maximum takeoff weight.
- The pilot did not communicate with ground crews to verify the total amount of fuel and chemical loaded for the flight.
- High ambient temperatures in the region contributed to decreased air density, affecting aircraft performance.