What happened
On June 21, 2014, an Ayres Thrush S2R-T15, registration TG-LER, was engaged in agricultural spraying operations in the municipality of Tiquisate, within the department of Escuintla, Guatemala. During the course of its mission, the aircraft crashed at Finca Primavera. The impact resulted in the destruction of the aircraft, though no fatalities or injuries were reported following the event.
The investigation
The investigation, conducted by the Department of Accident Investigation and Flight Safety of the DGAC, examined the aircraft's maintenance history, the meteorological conditions at the time of the accident, and the operational context.
Records indicated that the aircraft had undergone a significant maintenance inspection in December 2013, which included work on the engine, propeller, and airframe. At the time of the accident, the aircraft was being operated for fumigation purposes. Meteorological data from the nearby Retalhuleu station showed favorable flying conditions between 07:00 and 09:00 hours, characterized by CAVOK conditions (ceiling and visibility OK), calm winds, and high visibility exceeding 10 kilometers. The investigation also noted volcanic activity at Santa María and Santiaguito during this period.
Findings
- The aircraft was performing fumigation operations at the time of the accident.
- Meteorological conditions were stable with high visibility and no significant cloud cover below 5,000 feet.
- The aircraft's maintenance logs showed recent inspections and completed work on critical components such as the engine and propeller.
- The crash resulted in the total loss of the aircraft.