Michoacán | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

En route from Uruapan to Lázaro Cárdenas, while cruising in poor weather conditions, the twin engine airplane struck the slope of a mountain located about 15 km from Arteaga, in the Sierra Madre Mountain Range. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 20 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain. For unknown reasons, the aircraft was flying at an insufficient altitude.

Crash of a Boeing 727-264 on Mt San Andrés: 167 killed

Date & Time: Mar 31, 1986 at 0911 LT

Type of aircraft:

Boeing 727-200

Operator:

Registration:

XA-MEM

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Mexico City – Puerto Vallarta – Mazatlán – Los Angeles

MSN:

22414

YOM:

1981

Flight number:

MX940

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

159

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

167

Captain / Total flying hours:

15000

Circumstances:

The three engine aircraft departed Mexico City-Benito Juárez Airport at 0840LT on a regular schedule service to Los Angeles with two intermediate stops in Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlán, carrying 159 passengers and a crew of eight. While cruising at the assigned altitude of 31,000 feet, an explosion occurred on the left main gear wheel well after a tire burst. Fuel and hydraulic lines were ruptured and electrical cables severed, causing a cabin decompression. The captain declared an emergency and elected to reduce his altitude when the aircraft caught fire after fuel ignited. The aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed on the slope of Mt San Andrés (3,569 meters high) located 18 km southwest of Maravatio, State of Michoacán. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 167 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the left main gear brake was overheated during the takeoff run. This allowed a tire to explode due to high temperature and pressure because it has been serviced with air rather than nitrogen.

Crash of a Beechcraft 65 Queen Air near Zamora

Date & Time: Apr 24, 1978 at 0930 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft 65 Queen Air

Operator:

Larry Johnson Air Services

Registration:

N640PH

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

LC-58

YOM:

1961

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The twin engine airplane suffered an in-flight fire for unknown reasons. The pilot attempted an emergency landing near Zamora. The aircraft crash landed and struck a fence. All three occupants were injured, both passengers seriously.

Final Report:

Crash of a Travel Air S6000B in Ario de Rosales: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 3, 1934

Type of aircraft:

Travel Air 6000

Operator:

Benigno Serrato García

Registration:

XB-AHF

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

968

YOM:

1929

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed Morelia on a liaison flight within the State of Michoacán, carrying two passengers and two crew members. En route, an engine failure forced the pilot to attempt an emergency landing when the airplane crashed in a pasture located in Ario de Rosales. The pilot Carlos Drayton, the mechanic and a adjutant (personal assistant to the General) were injured while the General Benigno Serrato García, Governor of the State of Michoacán, was killed.

Probable cause:

Engine failure for unknown reasons.