Country
Crash of a Boeing 727-264 on Mt San Andrés: 167 killed
Date & Time:
Mar 31, 1986 at 0911 LT
Operator:
Registration:
XA-MEM
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Mexico City – Puerto Vallarta – Mazatlán – Los Angeles
MSN:
22414
YOM:
1981
Flight number:
MX940
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
159
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
167
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 Boeing 727-256 near Bilbao: 148 killed
Date & Time:
Feb 19, 1985 at 0927 LT
Operator:
Registration:
EC-DDU
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Madrid - Bilbao
MSN:
21777
YOM:
1979
Flight number:
IB610
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
141
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
148
Captain / Total hours on type:
4671.00
Copilot / Total hours on type:
2045
Aircraft flight hours:
13408
Aircraft flight cycles:
12347
Circumstances:
Iberia Flight 610 departed Madrid at 08:47 for a scheduled flight to Bilbao, where it was scheduled to land at 09:35. The Boeing 727, named "Alhambra de Granada", climbed to the cruising altitude of FL260. At 09:09 the crew were instructed to descend to FL100. Seven minutes later the copilot contacted Bilbao Tower. The controller then cleared the flight for an ILS approach: "Iberia 610, you can continue descent, for an ILS approach to Bilbao, runway 30, wind is 100 degrees 3 knots, QNH 1025 and transition level 70." This was confirmed by the crew. The controller subsequently offered them a direct clearance to the approach fix, which is located at 13 DME from the airport. The captain declined and decided to fly the standard approach procedure. At 09:22 flight 610 reported over the Bilbao VOR at 7000 feet, starting the standard approach procedure. The airplane further descended to 5000 feet, which it reached three minutes later. The crew switched the Altitude Alert System to 4300 ft (the minimum sector altitude is 4354 feet) and continued the descent. The altitude alert horn sounds 900 feet prior to reaching the preset altitude (approach mode) and 300 feet below that altitude (deviation mode). Since the flight had 700 feet to go, the horn would only sound at around 4000 feet. Since the crew descended below the minimum sector altitude, the altitude alert horn sounded at 4040 feet. The crew interpreted this being the approach mode alert, and continued their descent. Fifty-seven seconds after passing through the minimum sector altitude, the airplane struck the base of a structure of antennas located close to the top of Mount Oiz (3356 feet high). The left wing broke off and the remaining fuselage crashed onto the hillside, cutting a swath through the trees. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 148 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Their confidence on the automatic capture performed by the Altitude Alert System, the misinterpretation of its warnings, as well as a probable misreading of the altimeter made the crew to fly below the safety altitude, colliding into the television antennas' base, thus losing the left wing, falling to the ground with no possible control of the aircraft.
Final Report:
Crash of a Boeing 727-225 on Mt Nevado Illimani: 29 killed
Date & Time:
Jan 1, 1985 at 2030 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N819EA
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Asunción - La Paz
MSN:
22556
YOM:
1982
Flight number:
EA980
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
19
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
29
Circumstances:
After crossing Dakon intersection about 55 NM southeast of La Paz, the crew was cleared to descend from FL250 to FL180. The crew deviated from the prescribed route apparently to avoid bad weather when, at an altitude of 19,600 feet, the aircraft struck the slope of Mt Nevado Illimani (6,400 meters high) located 43 km southeast from runway 28. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 29 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain after the crew failed to realize his altitude and path were incorrect while cruising in limited visibility due to the night and clouds up to 9,000 meters.
