What happened
On June 4, 2022, a Cessna 182S aircraft, registration TG-PIM, was conducting a private flight from La Aurora International Airport to Los Altos Aerodrome in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. The flight departed at 17:38 UTC with one person on board. During the transit through the mountainous region of the Sierra Madre, the aircraft struck trees in the Aldea Chirijox area, within the municipality of Santa Catarina Ixtahuacán, Solola. The impact was severe, and the pilot sustained fatal polytrauma.
The investigation
The DGAC/UIA investigation focused on the flight conditions and the environmental factors present at the time of the accident. Investigators examined the aircraft's maintenance records, which were found to be up to date, and confirmed that the aircraft was properly certified and equipped. The investigation also reviewed the meteorological conditions, noting that the flight path through the mountains was entirely obscured by cloud cover. While the pilot was found to be in good physical and psychological condition, the investigation established that the flight was being conducted under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) despite the presence of adverse weather.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the loss of situational awareness due to a lack of visibility.
- The pilot attempted to operate under visual conditions while the cloud base was covering the mountain peaks.
- The aircraft was flying at a low altitude in an area where terrain elevations exceed 10,000 feet.
- Meteorological conditions in the area were unsuitable for VFR operations.
- The aircraft's maintenance and systems were functioning correctly prior to the impact.