What happened
On October 30, 2008, at approximately 12:20 local time, a Eurocopter AS300B2, registration TG-VIC, crashed into a mountainside in the municipality of Cobán, Alta Verapaz. The flight originated from Hotel Mundo Maya in Santa Elena, Petén, with the intention of landing at La Aurora International Airport.
During the flight, the pilot maintained contact with air traffic services, reporting the aircraft was at 8,500 feet and climbing toward 10,500 feet. At 18:11 UTC, the pilot contacted Guatemala Radio to request weather information for the destination. However, after receiving the requested weather data, the pilot did not acknowledge the transmission, and subsequent attempts to re-establish communication were unsuccessful. The aircraft was later found destroyed in a mountainous area characterized by steep slopes and dense vegetation.
The investigation
The DGAC/UIA investigation examined maintenance records, the pilot's flight logs, radio communications, and the wreckage at the scene. The investigation confirmed that the aircraft was airworthy, with all maintenance performed by a certified facility, and that the pilot held a valid private helicopter license with significant flight experience.
Physical examination of the wreckage revealed that the aircraft impacted the terrain with high energy. The engine was found buried in the ground, and the instrument panel was completely destroyed and burned. Evidence of torsion was found on the tail rotor drive shaft, and metal fragments from the main rotor blades were embedded in surrounding trees. The investigation also noted that while the pilot was flying under Visual Flight Rules (VFR), the aircraft was operating at 8,500 feet in an area where nearby mountain peaks reach nearly 10,000 feet.
Findings
- The aircraft impacted the terrain at high speed, causing total destruction of the airframe and the deaths of all four occupants.
- The pilot was flying in a mountainous region where the terrain elevation exceeded the aircraft's flight altitude.
- Meteorological conditions in the area included low clouds and reduced visibility due to drizzle and mist, which are common in the Verapaz region.
- The pilot did not request or receive specific weather updates for the flight route, only for the destination airport.
- The investigation identified that the pilot's ability to maintain visual contact with the ground was compromised by the weather.