What happened
During the takeoff roll on runway 29 at Managua-Las Mercedes Airport, an aircraft entered its initial climb phase before experiencing a catastrophic sequence of events. Shortly after departing the runway, the aircraft began a left bank that led to a crash in a field situated approximately 2.4 km from the airport. The impact and subsequent fire destroyed the aircraft. The accident resulted in 15 fatalities, including two crew members, while four individuals survived the event.
Findings
Official investigations identified several critical mechanical and operational issues during the departure. The sequence began with the failure of the number one engine as the aircraft was still on runway 29 and had not yet reached V2 speed. Following this, the landing gear was not retracted after the aircraft achieved V2 velocity. A few seconds later, the second engine also failed while the plane was climbing at an insufficient airspeed to maintain stable flight. This loss of power caused a progressive left turn that tightened until the aircraft rolled into an inverted position and struck a tree with its left wing. While investigators examined various potential reasons for the engine failures and the failure to retract the landing gear, they found no conclusive evidence to confirm a specific mechanical, electrical, or pilot-related cause.