Chichén Itzá | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

Few minutes after takeoff from Playa del Carmen, while flying at an altitude of 1,500 feet, the engine lost power and failed. The pilot attempted to make an emergency landing when the aircraft collided with trees and crashed in a wooded area located 18 km from its departure point. The pilot and all four passengers, a British family on vacations, were uninjured. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Engine failure caused by an oil leak following the failure of the 5th cylinder.

Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-46-310P Malibu in Chichén Itzá

Date & Time: Feb 15, 2017 at 2000 LT

Type of aircraft:

Piper PA-46 (Malibu/Meridian/Mirage/Matrix/M-Class)

Operator:

Registration:

N116TH

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Monterrey – Cancún

MSN:

46-8608005

YOM:

1986

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While overflying the Yucatán Province, en route from Monterrey to Cancún, the pilot informed ATC that he was low of fuel and requested the permission to divert to Chichén Itzá Airport for an emergency landing. While approaching the airfield by night, the single engine aircraft descended into trees and crashed few km from the airport. The airplane was destroyed and there was no fire. All five occupants were injured.

Crash of a Let L-410UVP-E in Chichén Itzá: 19 killed

Date & Time: Sep 12, 2001 at 1620 LT

Type of aircraft:

Let L-410

Operator:

Registration:

XA-ACM

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Chichén Itzá – Cozumel

MSN:

89 24 01

YOM:

1989

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

7100

Copilot / Total flying hours:

1000

Aircraft flight hours:

1903

Aircraft flight cycles:

3654

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Chichén Itzá Airport runway 28, while climbing to a height of about 500 feet, the aircraft rolled to the right, stalled and crashed in a wooded area located about one km past the runway end, bursting into flames. The aircraft was totally destroyed by a post crash fire and all 19 occupants were killed, among them US and Canadian citizens and three Mexican, both pilots and a local tourist guide.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the aircraft rolled through 2,100 of the 2,800 metres of runway 28 and that the right engine failed while its propeller autofeathered. Investigations were unable to determine the exact cause of the right engine failure. Nevertheless, appropriate flight techniques were not applied by the crew.

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A Trislander III-2 in Playa del Carmen: 6 killed

Date & Time: May 5, 1989 at 1430 LT

Type of aircraft:

Britten-Norman Trislander

Operator:

Registration:

XA-JPE

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Chichén Itzá – Cozumel

MSN:

1051

YOM:

1977

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route from Chichén Itzá to Cozumel, the crew encountered engine problems and was cleared to divert to Playa del Carmen for an emergency landing. On final, the aircraft lost height and crashed 3 km short of runway. Six passengers were killed while 13 other occupants were injured.

Probable cause:

Engine problems for unknown reasons.