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Crash of a Boeing 727-14 in Mazatlán

Date & Time: Oct 20, 1973
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 727-100
Operator:
Registration:
XA-SEN
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Denver - Mazatlán
MSN:
19398/345
YOM:
1966
Location:
Mazatlán
Sinaloa
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
117
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Denver-Stapleton Airport, the crew started the descent to Mazatlán-General Rafael Buelna Airport. On short final, the airplane struck the ground, lost its undercarriage and came to rest about 1,500 meters short of runway threshold. All 123 occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Boeing 727-64 in Mexico City: 27 killed

Date & Time: Sep 21, 1969 at 1720 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 727-100
Operator:
Registration:
XA-SEJ
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Chicago - Mexico City
MSN:
19255/331
YOM:
1966
Flight number:
MX801
Location:
Mexico City-Benito Juarez
Federal District of Mexico City
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
115
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
27
Circumstances:
On final approach to runway 23L at Mexico City-Benito Juárez Airport, the three engine airplane lost height and struck the ground about 1,5 km short of runway threshold. It bounced and became airborne again when the nose gear and the forward fuselage struck a railway embankment. Out of control, the airplane crashed and broke into several pieces near the runway threshold. 80 people were wounded while 15 others were uninjured. Five crew members and 22 passengers were killed. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty due to negligence on part of the technicians in charge of the aircraft maintenance. Investigations revealed that at the time of the accident, the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) was not properly installed and was unserviceable. It was later reported that the technicians failed to follow the published procedures regarding the FDR installation process. No Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) was on board at the time of the accident as the same technicians did not reinstall it prior to the flight. In such conditions, the airplane was unairworthy.

Crash of a Douglas DC-6 in Tuxtla Gutiérrez

Date & Time: Aug 20, 1969
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-6
Operator:
Registration:
XA-MOO
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
42877/18
YOM:
1947
Location:
Tuxtla Gutiérrez
Chiapas
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on landing for unknown reason. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Boeing 727-64 in Monterrey: 79 killed

Date & Time: Jun 4, 1969 at 0842 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 727-100
Operator:
Registration:
XA-SEL
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Mexico City - Monterrey
MSN:
19256/355
YOM:
1967
Flight number:
MX704
Location:
Monterrey
Nuevo León
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
72
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
79
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Mexico City, the crew started the descent to Monterrey-General Mariano Escobido Airport. In a visibility reduced by heavy rain falls, the crew initiated a turn to the left to intercept the glide. After passing over the Monterrey VOR, the aircraft descended with a rate of 1,500 feet per minute when, at a speed of 250 knots, it struck the slope of Cerro del Fraile located some 23 km from the airport. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 79 occupants were killed. The wreckage was found at an altitude of 1,800 meters few hours later.
Probable cause:
Wrong approach configuration on part of the flying crew who initiated a turn to the left instead to the right as mentioned in the published procedures. At the time of the accident, the aircraft speed was too high, which was considered as a contributing factor.

Crash of a Douglas DC-6 in Mérida

Date & Time: Jan 30, 1967
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-6
Operator:
Registration:
XA-LAU
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Mexico City – Mérida
MSN:
43059/96
YOM:
1948
Location:
Mérida
Yucatán
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
26
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Mérida-Licenciado Manuel Crecencio Rejon Airport, the four engine aircraft stalled and crashed few dozen yards short of runway threshold. All 29 occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Due to poor crew coordination during the final approach, they failed to follow the approach checklist and one of the pilot inadvertently set up the reverse thrust system. Due to low speed, the airplane stalled and crashed. The distance between the aircraft and the ground was insufficient to expect recovery.

Crash of a Douglas C-53-DO in Juchitepec: 8 killed

Date & Time: Sep 28, 1960
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-53 Skytrooper (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
XA-HUS
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Tapachula – Mexico City
MSN:
7388
YOM:
1942
Location:
Juchitepec
Federal District of Mexico City
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
15
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The crew encountered thick fog while approaching Mexico City Airport. The airplane struck a hill located near Juchitepec, about 40 km south of Mexico City Airport, and crashed. All three crew members and five passengers were killed while ten other occupants were rescued.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3A-228D near Talpa de Allende: 26 killed

Date & Time: Mar 8, 1955 at 1340 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
XA-DIK
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Puerto Vallarta – Talpa de Allende – Mascota – Guadalajara
MSN:
3992
YOM:
1941
Flight number:
MX591
Location:
Talpa de Allende
Jalisco
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
23
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
26
Circumstances:
While descending to Talpa de Allende Airport in marginal weather conditions, the airplane hit the slope of the Cerro del Cabre located about 20 km northwest of the airport. The airplane disintegrated on impact and all 26 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas DC-6 in Mexico City

Date & Time: Sep 1, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-6
Operator:
Registration:
XA-JOR
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Los Angeles – Mexico City
MSN:
43211
YOM:
1950
Location:
Mexico City
Federal District of Mexico City
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
38
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Mexico City Airport, the four engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances in the Texcoco Lagoon, few km short of runway. All 42 occupants were rescued but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3A in Orizaba: 17 killed

Date & Time: Dec 16, 1949 at 0600 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
XA-DUK
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Mexico City – Puebla – Mérida
MSN:
11721
YOM:
1943
Location:
Orizaba
Veracruz
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
13
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
17
Circumstances:
While cruising by night, the crew did not realize he was flying too low and did not distinguish the mountain. At 0600LT, the twin engine aircraft hit the slope of Cerro del Borrego located near Orizaba. All 17 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3A on Mt Popocatépetl: 24 killed

Date & Time: Sep 26, 1949 at 1330 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
XA-DUH
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Tapachula – Tuxtla Gutierrez – Ixtepec – Oaxaca – Mexico City
MSN:
11725
YOM:
1943
Location:
Mt Popocatépetl
Puebla
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
21
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
24
Circumstances:
The pilot started the descent to Mexico City Airport when the aircraft hit the slope of Mt Popocatépetl, killing all 24 occupants.
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