Acapulco | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

En route from Acapulco to Cozumel, the pilot informed ATC about the malfunction of both engines and was cleared to divert to San Vicente Airfield, Chiapas. On approach, the twin engine airplane went out of control and crashed in flames. Both occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed by fire.

Probable cause:

Partial loss of power on both engines for undetermined reason.

Final Report:

Crash of a Convair CV-990-30A-8 Coronado in Acapulco

Date & Time: Aug 8, 1970 at 0002 LT

Type of aircraft:

Convair CV-990

Operator:

Registration:

N5603

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Positioning

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

New York - Acapulco

MSN:

30-10-13

YOM:

1963

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

15054

Captain / Total hours on type:

2624.00

Circumstances:

On final approach to Acapulco-General Juan N. Alvarez Airport by night, the crew failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the airplane struck approach lights and crashed in flames short of runway. All eight crew members were rescued (a stewardess was found badly injured few hours later) and the aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire.

Probable cause:

The crew continued the approach below the glide for unknown reason.

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-8-51 in Acapulco: 6 killed

Date & Time: Aug 13, 1966 at 0215 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-8

Operator:

Registration:

XA-PEI

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Acapulco - Acapulco

MSN:

45652

YOM:

1962

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

15712

Captain / Total hours on type:

1256.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

13630

Copilot / Total hours on type:

Aircraft flight hours:

10030

Circumstances:

After an uneventful scheduled flight from New York, U.S.A. to Acapulco, Mexico, with an intermediate stop at Mexico City, the aircraft arrived at Acapulco International Airport at 0012 hours local time. It was then serviced and refuelled and took off from runway 10 at approximately 0114 hours on a local crew training flight. At about 0150 hours the aircraft reported over the station at 16 000 ft and requested clearance from the tower to carry out a simulated descent. Clearance was granted and the aircraft was instructed to report at 6 000 ft overhead which it did and was seen by the tower controller who then requested it to report on procedure turn. The aircraft reported on procedure turn at 2 500 ft and this was the last message received. At approximately 0215 hours explosions were heard and a fire was reported southeast of the airport. The wreckage was found on the slope of Mt El Salado, about 33 km from Acapulco Airport. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all six crew members were killed.

Probable cause:

Careless and untimely descent in the course of a procedure turn which wan continued below established minimum altitude. The following findings were reported:
- Weather was not a factor in this accident,
- The aircraft was carrying out a simulated descent approach procedure and the desCe2t from 2 500 ft was initiated in the middle of the procedure turn, whereas according to the standard procedure it should have been initiated on completion of the procedure turn when the aircraft was aligned with the runway. The aircraft's descent was continued below the minimum altitude limit until the aircraft struck the ground in a nearly level attitude, slightly banked to the right, with the undercarriage extended and 50° of flaps (instead of the normal 35°),
- No evidence of a malfunction or failure of the aircraft, its engines or equipment, or of a loss of control of the aircraft was found,
- Evidence of complacency in the supervision of the flight was found.

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-2-243 in Rio Grande: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 20, 1961

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-2

Operator:

Registration:

XA-KIC

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Oaxaca – Acapulco

MSN:

2069

YOM:

1939

Location:

Río Grande-Gobernador Ramón Trejo Noel

Oaxaca

Country:

Mexico

Region:

Central America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route from Oaxaca to Acapulco, the airplane struck a mountain and was destroyed. All three occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-70-DL in Mexico City: 4 killed

Date & Time: Nov 5, 1955

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Mexican Government

Registration:

XC-ABW

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Government

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Mexico City – Acapulco

MSN:

19217

YOM:

1943

Location:

Mexico City-Benito Juarez

Federal District of Mexico City

Country:

Mexico

Region:

Central America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Mexico City-Benito Juarez Airport, the aircraft suffered an engine failure, stalled and crashed into the lake Texcoco. A crew member and three passengers were killed, among them the Mexican architect Carlos Lazo Barreiro. All 14 other occupants were injured. The flight was completed on behalf of the Ministry of Communications and Public Works (Secretaría de Comunicaciones y Obras Públicas - SCOP).

Probable cause:

Engine failure shortly after liftoff.

Crash of a Douglas DC-2-243 near Oaxaca: 22 killed

Date & Time: Jul 14, 1955 at 1545 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-2

Operator:

Registration:

XA-DOB

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Acapulco – Oaxaca

MSN:

2088

YOM:

1939

Location:

Oaxaca

Country:

Mexico

Region:

Central America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew started the descent to Oaxaca-Xoxocotlan Airport when the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located 39 km from the airport. The wreckage was spotted few hours later and all 22 occupants have been killed. For undetermined reason, the crew started the descent prematurely.

Crash of a Douglas DC-2-243 in San Luis Acatlán: 13 killed

Date & Time: Nov 27, 1951

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-2

Operator:

Registration:

XA-DOQ

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

San Luis Acatlán – Acapulco

MSN:

2077

YOM:

1939

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from San Luis Acatlán Aerodrome, while in initial climb, the airplane hit an obstacle and crashed. Both pilots and eleven passengers were killed while eight other occupants were injured. It was determined that while approaching San Luis Acatlán Airfield earlier that day, the crew spotted some cattle on the grassy runway and it took time for locals to remove all animals. Thus, the landing was delayed and when the crew started the takeoff run to Acapulco, it was already dark and the visibility was apparently insufficient.