What happened
On May 1, 2011, at approximately 12:45 local time, a De Havilland DHC-6-200, registration TG-JOC, was performing a local flight at the Barillas airstrip in the municipality of Santa Cruz Barillas, Huehuetenango, Guatemala. As the crew was on short final approach and configured for landing, several cows crossed the runway while being driven by an individual.
To avoid a collision with the livestock, the pilot was unable to execute a go-around. Upon touchdown, the left main landing gear struck a ditch. This impact caused the landing gear to collapse, forcing the aircraft to veer toward the left side of the runway. The aircraft sustained damage during the excursion, though the crew remained uninjured.
The investigation
The investigation conducted by the DGAC/UIA examined the sequence of events following the runway excursion. Investigators reviewed the crew's incident report and verified the meteorological conditions at the time of the event. The investigation also assessed the state of the runway surface and the presence of obstacles during the landing phase.