Piper PA-23-250 accident near Guatemala City, Gt, April 21, 2012
On April 21, 2012 at about 5:50 pm local time, a Piper PA-23-250, registered TGVCH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Guatemala City. It was a personal flight under non-U.S. private rules. 3 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
This accident is under the jurisdiction and control of the Guatemalan DGAC.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 21, 2012 · about 5:50 pm local time
- Place
- Guatemala City, Guatemala
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-23-250 · all PA-23-250s on the register
- Registration
- TGVCH · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · non-U.S. private rules
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
On April 21, 2012, at 1750 coordinated universal time, a Piper PA 23-250, Guatemalan registered TG-VCH, was destroyed when it impacted terrain under unknown circumstances near Guatemala City, Guatemala. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot and two passenger were fatally injured. The local flight originated from La Aurora International Airport (MGGT), Guatemala City, Guatemala. The accident investigation is under the jurisdiction and control of the Guatemalan government. This report is for informational purposes only and contains only information released by or obtained from the Guatemalan government or Direccion General de Aeronautica Civil. Further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: Gobierno De Guatemala Direccion General de Aeronautica Civil (DGAC) Aeropuerto International La Aurora Zona 13, Guatemala, C.A. 01013
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Fire on the ground
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.18 inHg
- Observation at 6:00 pm from MGGT
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.