What happened
On September 14, 2014, a Boeing Stearman PT-17, registration TG-JEN, was involved in an aviation accident in the municipality of San José, Department of Escuintla, Guatemala. The aircraft was operating in an area experiencing significant convective activity. During the late afternoon, the region was subject to thunderstorms, heavy rain showers, and cumulonimbus clouds. The sequence of events led to the aircraft impacting the ground in the Juan Gaviota area.
The investigation
The investigation conducted by the Unidad de Investigación de Accidentes (UIA) of the DGAC examined the meteorological conditions at Puerto San José during the timeframe of the accident. The investigators reviewed METAR reports from 16:00, 17:00, and 18:00 local time to establish the environmental context. The analysis focused on the presence of thunderstorms (TS), heavy precipitation (PCPN), and the development of cumulonimbus clouds in the vicinity of the flight path. The investigation also reviewed the aircraft's maintenance records, noting that the aircraft had undergone an annual inspection and was maintained by an approved organization.
Findings
- The meteorological conditions at the time of the accident included thunderstorms and heavy rain showers in the vicinity of the aircraft.
- Significant cumulonimbus cloud development was present, with cloud bases as low as 1,700 feet.
- The aircraft was operating in an environment characterized by active precipitation from the north, northeast, and northwest.
- The aircraft's maintenance history indicated compliance with manufacturer programs and recent annual inspections.