Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Zacapa Guatemala
Sunday, August 24, 2008 15:45 UTC

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

On August 24, 2008, about 1545 universal coordinated time, a Cessna 208, Guatemalan registry TG-JCS, was destroyed during a forced landing, following a loss of engine power while in cruise flight near Zacapa, Guatemala. The two Guatemalan certificated flight crew members, and nine passengers were killed. Three passengers were seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight that departed La Aurora International Airport (MGGT), Guatemala City, Guatemala, destined for El Estor, Izabal, Guatemala. The airplane was operated by Aero Ruta Maya, and based at MGGT. The airplane experienced a loss of engine power about 15 minutes after takeoff, and crashed during a forced landing attempt to a field. A postcrash fire consumed a majority of the airplane. This investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Direccion General de Aeronautica Civil (DGAC). Any further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: DGAC Aeropuerto International La Aurora Zona 13, Guatemala, C.A. 01013 This report is for informational purposes and contains only information released by the Government of Guatemala.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/24/2008
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1545
Event Time Zone Coordinated Universal Time? Same as GMT
Event City Zacapa
Event State --
Event Country GUATEMALA
Zipcode of the event site --
Event Date Year 2008
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 145615N
Event Location Longitude 0894844W
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport --
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID MGGT
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions --
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 16
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 360
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.24
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal 11
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 3
Injury Total All 14
Investigating Agency Foreign
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) --
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Aug 24 2008 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Sep 14 2008 1:16PM
User who most recently changed record MUZD
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Washinton, DC

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number --
NTSB Number NYC08RA286
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Non-U.S., Commercial
Type of Flight Plan filed Unknown
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire --
Aircraft Explosion --
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 208
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number --
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft --
Number of Engines --
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed --
ELT Activated --
ELT Aided Location of Event Site --
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name --
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City --
Aircraft Owner State --
Aircraft Owner Country --
Aircraft Owner Zipcode --
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? --
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? --
Operator Street Address 18-05 Interior Aeropuerto La Aurora
Operator City Guatemala
Operator State --
Operator Country GT
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Non-scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger Only
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) --
Second Pilot on Board --
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code MGGT
Departure City Guatemala City
Departure State --
Departure Country GT
Departure Time 1530
Departure Time Zone UTC
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code NONE
Destination City El Estor
Destination State --
Destination Country GT
Specific Phase of Flight Emergency landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 14 2008 1:16PM
User who most recently changed record MUZD
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --