# NTSB CEN15WA363: Bell 206 - L1, Lake Peten Izta, Guatemala, August 7, 2015

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Foreign investigation
- Date: August 7, 2015, 11:28 local (11:28 UTC)
- Place: Lake Peten Izta, Guatemala
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Led by another country's authority
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Lead agency: Other
- Parties: DGAC
- NTSB case key (mKey): 91812
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN15WA363
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91812/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15WA363

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Initial climb: Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 252 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md)

## Factual narrative

On August 7, 2015, about 1128 Universal Coordinated Time, a Bell 206-L1, Guatemalan-registered TG-MIX, operated by Aereo Services, was substantially damaged when it impacted Lake Peten Itza, Guatemala. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot and one passenger received minor injuries. The flight was originating at the time of the accident and was transporting cargo and personnel to an archeological site. The Guatemalan investigators received reports that the helicopter was climbing and was between 100 and 200 feet above the ground when it started to descend. The pilot attempted to return to the shoreline. The helicopter struck the water, inverted, and sank. The accident investigation is under the jurisdiction and control of the Guatemalan government. This report is for information purposes only and contains only information released by or obtained from the Guatemalan government or Direccion General de Aeronautica Civil (DGAC). 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

## Aircraft

- Registration: TG-MIX (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206 - L1
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 45227
- Airframe hours: 9222
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Non-U.S., commercial
- Registered owner: Aereo Services
- Departed: Lake Peten Izta

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Temperature: 93 °F

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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