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Mexico
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Crash of a Lockheed C-130A Hercules on Mt La Paila: 5 killed

Date & Time: Sep 17, 1999
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed C-130 Hercules
Operator:
Registration:
3610
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Santa Lucía AFB - Santa Lucía AFB
MSN:
3217
YOM:
1959
Location:
Mt La Paila
Hidalgo
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft departed Santa Lucía AFB on a local training flight. While flying in clouds, the aircraft struck the slope of Mt La Paila (2,865 metres high) located about 57 km northeast of the airbase. All five crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Boeing 737-247 in Loma Bonita

Date & Time: May 10, 1999
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 737-200
Operator:
Registration:
B-12001
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Loma Bonita - Loma Bonita
MSN:
20127
YOM:
1969
Location:
Loma Bonita
Oaxaca
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training flight at Loma Bonita Airport which has a 1,400 metres long 18/36 runway. After touchdown, the crew initiated the braking procedure but the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran, rolled for about 100 metres then came to rest. All six occupants escaped uninjured. A fire erupted and destroyed the aircraft in few minutes as local firebombers were not sufficiently trained and well equipped.
Probable cause:
It was determined that following a wrong approach configuration, the crew landed too far down the runway, reducing the landing distance available. Brake marks were found on the last portion of the runway.

Crash of a Rockwell 500S Shrike Commander near San Cristóbal de Las Casas: 5 killed

Date & Time: Mar 18, 1999 at 0930 LT
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Shrike Commander 500
Operator:
Registration:
ETL-1251
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
500-3211
YOM:
1974
Location:
San Cristóbal de Las Casas
Chiapas
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Terán AFB in Tuxtla Gutiérrez at 0915LT on a liaison flight, carrying three passengers and two pilots. About 15 minutes later, the aircraft struck the slope of Mt Tzontehuitz located about 12 km northeast of San Cristóbal de Las Casas. All five occupants were killed.

Crash of an IAI Arava 201 in Mexico

Date & Time: Dec 31, 1998
Type of aircraft:
IAI Arava 201
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Fire fighting
Location:
Mexico
All Mexico
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances somewhere in Mexico while engaged in a fire fighting mission. Occupant's fate unknown. The accident occurred somewhere in 1998, exact date unknown.

Crash of an IAI Arava 201 near Escuintla

Date & Time: Sep 16, 1998
Type of aircraft:
IAI Arava 201
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
Escuintla
Chiapas
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft was completing a special flight to a remote area in the coast of Chiapas, carrying three crew members and a load of essential products. After landing along the motorway Tonolá - Tapachula, the right wing collided with an obstacle. The aircraft cartwheeled and came to rest. All three crew members escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. The accident occurred at km 147.

Crash of a Short SC.7 Skyvan 3 Variant 100 on Orizaba Peak: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jul 23, 1998
Type of aircraft:
Short SC.7 Skyvan Variant
Operator:
Registration:
TP-214
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Mexico City – Tuxtla Gutiérrez
MSN:
1946
YOM:
1976
Location:
Orizaba Peak
Puebla
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Mexico City-Benito Juárez Airport on a liaison flight to Tuxtla Gutiérrez, carrying four people. While cruising at an altitude of 18,200 feet in good weather conditions on airway V22, the aircraft struck the slope of the Orizaba Peak. The wreckage was found at the altitude of 5,547 metres and all four occupants were killed. The aircraft had also the civil registration XC-UTQ.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain after the crew failed to follow the minimum safe altitude for the area. The minimum safe altitude for airway V22 is fixed at 16,000 feet except for the area of the Orizaba Peak where the minimum altitude is fixed at 21,000 feet. At the time of the accident, the visibility was estimated to be above 25 km with light mist. Thus, it is possible that the Orizaba Peak was shrouded in mist.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 near Tepic: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 6, 1989
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Location:
Tepic
Nayarit
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Crashed on the Mt Sangangüey located 11 km east of Tepic Airport. The wreckage was found two days later. All five crew members were killed.

Crash of a Rockwell Sabreliner 75A in Saltillo

Date & Time: Oct 26, 1989
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Sabreliner 75
Operator:
Registration:
TP-101
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Mexico City - Saltillo
MSN:
380-67
YOM:
1978
Location:
Saltillo
Coahuila
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After touchdown at Saltillo-Plan de Guadalupe Airport, the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance and overran. It struck obstacles, lost its undercarriage and came to rest few dozen meters further. All seven occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. It had the dual registration TP-101 and XC-UJC.
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