San Salvador – Guatemala City
Flight / Schedule
San Salvador – Guatemala City
Aircraft
Piper PA-31-310 NavajoRegistration
FAS001
Date
April 10, 1980 at 12:00 AM
Type
CRASHFlight Type
Military
Flight Phase
Landing (descent or approach)
Crash Site
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Crash Location
Guatemala City-La Aurora Guatemala
Region
Central America • Guatemala
Coordinates
14.5822°, -90.5290°
Crash Cause
Weather
Narrative Report
On April 10, 1980 at 12:00 AM, San Salvador – Guatemala City experienced a crash involving Piper PA-31-310 Navajo, operated by Salvadorian Air Force - Fuerza Aérea Salvadoreña, with the event recorded near Guatemala City-La Aurora Guatemala.
The flight was categorized as military and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.
3 people were known to be on board, 3 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.
Crew on board: 2, crew fatalities: 2, passengers on board: 1, passenger fatalities: 1, other fatalities: 0.
The listed crash cause is weather. On approach to Guatemala City-La Aurora Airport, the pilot encountered low visibility due to heavy rain falls when the twin engine airplane crashed near Santa Catarina Pinula, few km from the airfield. The airplane was destroyed and all three occupants were killed, three officers of the Salvadoran Air Force, among them Gilberto Balmore Escamilla, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces. Crew: Maj Fernando Salazar Mena, Cpt Fredy Roberto Asencio. Passenger: Gilberto Balmore Escamilla.
Aircraft reference details include registration FAS001.
Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 14.5822°, -90.5290°.
Fatalities
Total
3
Crew
2
Passengers
1
Other
0
Crash Summary
On approach to Guatemala City-La Aurora Airport, the pilot encountered low visibility due to heavy rain falls when the twin engine airplane crashed near Santa Catarina Pinula, few km from the airfield. The airplane was destroyed and all three occupants were killed, three officers of the Salvadoran Air Force, among them Gilberto Balmore Escamilla, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces. Crew: Maj Fernando Salazar Mena, Cpt Fredy Roberto Asencio. Passenger: Gilberto Balmore Escamilla.
Cause: Weather
Occupants & Outcome
Crew On Board
2
Passengers On Board
1
Estimated Survivors
0
Fatality Rate
100.0%
Known people on board: 3
Operational Details
Schedule / Flight
San Salvador – Guatemala City
Flight Type
Military
Flight Phase
Landing (descent or approach)
Crash Site
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Region / Country
Central America • Guatemala
Aircraft Details
Aircraft
Piper PA-31-310 NavajoRegistration
FAS001
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