Mexico City | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

Crashed shortly after takeoff from Mexico City Airport for unknown reason. Three passengers were killed while five other occupants were injured. The airplane was owned by R. O'Farrell.

Crash of a Bristol 175 Britannia 302 in Tijuana

Date & Time: Jul 9, 1965

Type of aircraft:

Bristol Britannia

Operator:

Registration:

XA-MEC

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Mexico City – Tijuana

MSN:

12918

YOM:

1957

Location:

Tijuana-General Abelardo L. Rodríguez

Baja California

Country:

Mexico

Region:

Central America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Following an uneventful flight from Mexico City, the crew started the descent to Tijuana-Rodriguez Airport when he encountered technical difficulties with one main gear that was not locked down. The captain decided to follow a holding pattern over Tijuana but few minutes later, he was forced to land due to fuel shortage. Upon touchdown, one of the main gear collapsed. The airplane slid for several dozen yards before coming to rest. While all 82 occupants were evacuated safely, the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Failure of a landing gear that was not locked down on landing.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3 in Puebla: 7 killed

Date & Time: Dec 5, 1959

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-3

Operator:

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Government

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Mexico City – Chetumal

Location:

Puebla-Hermanos Serdán-Huejotzingo

Puebla

Country:

Mexico

Region:

Central America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route from Mexico City to Chetumal, the crew informed ATC about engine problems and elected to divert to Puebla-Hermanos Serdán-Huejotzingo Airport. On approach, the crew encountered poor visibility due to foggy conditions when the airplane struck an antenna and crashed onto a house. A crew member was seriously injured while seven other occupants were killed. There were no injuries on ground.

Crash of a Lockheed L-749 Constellation near Guadalajara: 45 killed

Date & Time: Jun 2, 1958 at 2206 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed L-749 Constellation

Operator:

Registration:

XA-MEV

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Guadalajara – Mexico City

MSN:

2665

YOM:

1951

Flight number:

AM111

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft took off from Guadalajara Airport on a scheduled flight to Mexico City, carrying 38 passengers and a crew of 7. It did not follow the established climb-out procedure and crashed at approximately 2206 hours local time against La Latilla mountain, approximately 13 km from the radio beacon west of Guadalajara Airport, killing all persons aboard.

Probable cause:

The aircraft did not climb out in accordance with previously approved procedures - the provisions of which are set out in the Airports Manual.

Final Report:

Crash of a Lascurain Aura in Mexico City: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 24, 1957

Type of aircraft:

Lascurain Aura

Operator:

Ángel Lascurain y Osio

Registration:

XB-ZEU

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Test

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Mexico City - Mexico City

MSN:

YOM:

1957

Location:

Mexico City

Federal District of Mexico City

Country:

Mexico

Region:

Central America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

Circumstances:

The crew was performing a test flight on this new Mexican prototype built by the engineer Ángel Lascurain y Osio. Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, both engines failed. The pilot elected to return for an emergency landing but on short final, the undercarriage struck a mound of earth. The aircraft overturned and crashed upside down in a field. Both occupants were killed, test pilot Carlos Castillo Segura (aged 35) and Ángel Lascurain y Osio aged 76.
Source: http://www.elbiplano.com/Lascurain.html

Probable cause:

Double engine failure.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24J Liberator in Mérida: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 15, 1957 at 0753 LT

Type of aircraft:

Consolidated B-24 Liberator

Operator:

Registration:

XA-KUN

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Mérida – Mexico City

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

After takeoff from runway 10, while climbing to an altitude of 300 feet, the pilot made a turn to the left heading 65° then continued climbing for about 400 to 600 feet when control was lost. The airplane stalled and crashed in a huge explosion in the Calle 54 Sur Street, about two km north of the airport. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and all three occupants were killed, among them the Mexican Actor and Singer Pedro Infante who was acting pilot on this flight. A kid on the ground was also killed.

Probable cause:

The accident was due to a maneuvering error which consisted in making two turns onto the Mexico City heading without conforming the distance and procedure specifications and below the prescribed altitudes and speeds. This error was aggravated by a probable shifting of the load due to improper securing.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft AT-11 Kansan near Tlacolulan: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jun 15, 1956 at 0130 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft AT-11 Kansan

Operator:

Registration:

BHB-1516

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Mexico City – Veracruz

MSN:

3969

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While cruising by night, the twin engine aircraft hit the slope of Mt Torrecillas located near Tlacolulan. All three crew members were killed.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46-CU Commando in León: 18 killed

Date & Time: Jun 18, 1955

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

XA-LID

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

León – Mexico City

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from León-Guanajuato-Del Bajio Airport, the airplane encountered difficulties to gain height. It struck trees and crashed in flames a wooded area. Eighteen occupants were killed while all other occupants were injured.

Probable cause:

Failure of one engine after rotation caused the aircraft to stall and crash.

Crash of a Lockheed 18 LodeStar near Ciudad Valles: 6 killed

Date & Time: Mar 7, 1955

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed 18 LodeStar

Operator:

Registration:

XB-ZEH

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Tampico - Mexico City

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft, owned by the Mexican businessman and sports executive Jorge Pasquel, was performing a flight from a private ranch in the region of Tampico to Mexico City. While cruising by night, the twin engine aircraft hit the slope of the Cerro El Sabino located near Ciudad Valles. The wreckage was found a day later and all six occupants have been killed. There were on board two pilots, two technicians, Mr. Jorge Pasquel and his personal barber.