Narrative:
A Let L-410 passenger plane, HR-AUQ, was destroyed in an accident near El Espino, Honduras. All 12 passengers and two crew members on board were killed. The airplane operated on Central American Airways flight 731 from San Pedro Sula (SAP) to Tegucigalpa (TGU).
The flight had departed San Pedro Sula at 07:04 for the forty minute flight to Tegucigalpa. The pilot flying deviated from the airways without clearance from air traffic control. At 07:34 the controller at Toncontin Airport cleared the flight direct to the 15 DME fix (final approach fix) for a VOR/DME approach to runway 20 and to descend to 9000 feet. At 07:51 the fight reported that they were performing a missed approach, after which the flight was cleared for a VOR/DME approach to runway 02. The airplane was lined up with runway 02 and descending with full flaps, when at about 12 km from the runway the airplane stalled. The descent could not be arrested and the airplane impacted a wooded hillside at an elevation of 5412 ft.
PROBABLE CAUSES (translated from original Spanish language report):
1) Weather conditions existing at the time of the event, during the approach to the runway the aircraft was operated slightly above the stall speed and a major change in wind speed could cause a stall. The altitude at which the windshear occured, and the reaction time of the pilot and the responsiveness of the aircraft determined whether the descent could be arrested in time to avoid an accident.
2) No published descent procedures were performed, possibly misinterpretation of Flight Instruments (altimeter, airspeed indicator).
3) During the descent to the VOR/DME for runway 20 and 02, the pilot in command (PIC) did not check his approach chart, and did not continually consult the first officer on the altitude and course.
4) There was no adequate communication between crew; deficient CRM (No approach briefing was made for any of the two approaches).
5) The aircraft was configured for landing with flaps fully down (flap 42) at a very long distance from the track without having it in sight. It is noteworthy that the aircraft will not respond to an adverse condition windshear as it appeared at that time with such a configuration. It should be noted that in both approaches it is mandatory to perdorm a "circuling" procedure.
» La Tribuna
» Confirmado: Catorce personas fallecieron en accidente de aviación en Las Mesitas (Proceso, 14-2-2011)
MHTG 141400Z 36009KT 5000 VCSH FEW007 BKN020 17/14 Q1022 A3018 NOSIG=
Wind 360 degrees at 9 knots; Visibility 5000m; Showers in the vicinity; Few clouds 700 ft., broken clouds 2,000 ft.; Temperature 17°C; Dew point 14°C; 1022 hPa
accident date: 14-02-2011
type: Let L-410UVP-E20
registration: HR-AUQ
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Monday 14 February 2011 |
| Time: | 08:02 |
| Type: |  Let L-410UVP-E20 |
| Operator: | Central American Airways - CAA |
| Registration: | HR-AUQ |
| MSN: | 912603 |
| First flight: | 1991 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 5153 |
| Engines: | 2 Walter M-601E |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 12 / Occupants: 12 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 14 / Occupants: 14 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Aircraft fate: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | El Espino ( Honduras)
|
| Crash site elevation: | 1650 m (5413 feet) amsl |
| Phase: | En route (ENR) |
| Nature: | Domestic Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | San Pedro Sula-Ramon Villeda Morales Airport (SAP/MHLM), Honduras |
| Tegucigalpa-Toncontin Airport (TGU/MHTG), Honduras | |
| Flightnumber: | 731 |
A Let L-410 passenger plane, HR-AUQ, was destroyed in an accident near El Espino, Honduras. All 12 passengers and two crew members on board were killed. The airplane operated on Central American Airways flight 731 from San Pedro Sula (SAP) to Tegucigalpa (TGU).
The flight had departed San Pedro Sula at 07:04 for the forty minute flight to Tegucigalpa. The pilot flying deviated from the airways without clearance from air traffic control. At 07:34 the controller at Toncontin Airport cleared the flight direct to the 15 DME fix (final approach fix) for a VOR/DME approach to runway 20 and to descend to 9000 feet. At 07:51 the fight reported that they were performing a missed approach, after which the flight was cleared for a VOR/DME approach to runway 02. The airplane was lined up with runway 02 and descending with full flaps, when at about 12 km from the runway the airplane stalled. The descent could not be arrested and the airplane impacted a wooded hillside at an elevation of 5412 ft.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSES (translated from original Spanish language report):
1) Weather conditions existing at the time of the event, during the approach to the runway the aircraft was operated slightly above the stall speed and a major change in wind speed could cause a stall. The altitude at which the windshear occured, and the reaction time of the pilot and the responsiveness of the aircraft determined whether the descent could be arrested in time to avoid an accident.
2) No published descent procedures were performed, possibly misinterpretation of Flight Instruments (altimeter, airspeed indicator).
3) During the descent to the VOR/DME for runway 20 and 02, the pilot in command (PIC) did not check his approach chart, and did not continually consult the first officer on the altitude and course.
4) There was no adequate communication between crew; deficient CRM (No approach briefing was made for any of the two approaches).
5) The aircraft was configured for landing with flaps fully down (flap 42) at a very long distance from the track without having it in sight. It is noteworthy that the aircraft will not respond to an adverse condition windshear as it appeared at that time with such a configuration. It should be noted that in both approaches it is mandatory to perdorm a "circuling" procedure.
Accident investigation:
|
Classification:
Loss of control
Sources:
» El Tiempo» La Tribuna
» Confirmado: Catorce personas fallecieron en accidente de aviación en Las Mesitas (Proceso, 14-2-2011)
METAR Weather report:
14:00 UTC / 08:00 local time:MHTG 141400Z 36009KT 5000 VCSH FEW007 BKN020 17/14 Q1022 A3018 NOSIG=
Wind 360 degrees at 9 knots; Visibility 5000m; Showers in the vicinity; Few clouds 700 ft., broken clouds 2,000 ft.; Temperature 17°C; Dew point 14°C; 1022 hPa
Photos
accident date: 14-02-2011
type: Let L-410UVP-E20
registration: HR-AUQ
Aircraft history
| date | registration | operator | remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | CCCP-67673 | Aeroflot | stored, not delivered |
| 1992 | OK-WDP | Let ? | |
| 1 DEC 1993 | J2-KBF | Puntavia | delivered |
| 1994 | J2-KBF | Somali Air Services | leased |
| 1997 | OK-WDP | Let | |
| DEC 1997 | LV-WYV | Orion | |
| 2001 | S9-TBY | Aerotec International | |
| 21 FEB 2002 | D-CLET | Aerotec International | registered |
| SEP 2002 | D-CLET | Antares | |
| AUG 2007 | HH-AVP | delivered | |
| DEC 2007 | HR-AUQ | Central American Airways |
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from San Pedro Sula-Ramon Villeda Morales Airport to Tegucigalpa-Toncontin Airport as the crow flies is 171 km (107 miles).
Accident location: Exact; as reported in the official accident report.
Distance from San Pedro Sula-Ramon Villeda Morales Airport to Tegucigalpa-Toncontin Airport as the crow flies is 171 km (107 miles).
Accident location: Exact; as reported in the official accident report.
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
languages: 
Honduras
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Let L-410
- 1138+ built
- 103rd loss
- 48th fatal accident
- 12th worst accident (at the time)
- 15th worst accident (currently)
Honduras- 6th worst accident
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