Mérida | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The aircraft was performing a charter flight from Mérida to Caracas, carrying 27 students from the San José College of Mérida and one teacher. The airplane took off at 1213LT and six minutes later, the captain informed ground he was flying in the Chama Valley. About half an hour later, while cruising at an altitude of 2,800 meters, the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located in Páramo Las Siete Lagunas, about 70 km northeast of the Mérida Airport. The wreckage was spotted at the end of the afternoon and all 31 occupants were killed.
Crew:
Jesús Power Troconis, pilot,
Roberto Suprani Marotta, copilot,
Consuelo Flores, flight engineer.
Passengers:
Juan Ignacio Aranguren,
José Vicente Fernández,
Miguel Antonio Olivé,
Harald Beer,
Omar José Gonzalo,
Francisco de Sales Roche,
Alfredo Bello,
Eduardo Götz Römer,
Julio Seco,
Jon Berecibar,
Carlos Hernández,
Alexis Senior,
Jesús Alberto Calvo,
Gorka de Ibargüen,
Ronald Senior,
Jesús Guillermo Carvallo,
Francisco Javier López Pacheco,
Alfredo Suárez Cárdenas,
Fernando Correa,
José Ignacio López Pacheco,
Alfonso Suárez Mujica,
Alfredo Delfino,
Roberto Matute Burguera,
Arístides Suárez Mujica,
Giorgio De Zordo,
Freddy Morrison,
Hernado Sucre,
Luis Rafael Oramas.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46F-1-CU Commando in Mérida

Date & Time: Jun 15, 1950

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

N74170

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

22477

YOM:

1945

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was performing a cargo flight to Mexico when the propeller on the right engine separated in flight. Some of the blades went through the fuselage and contacted the left engine. In such conditions, the crew was forced to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft belly landed near Mérida and came to rest. Both crew members were unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Failure of a master rod bearing and a crankshaft on the right engine.

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:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Mexico City – Puebla – Mérida

MSN:

11721

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

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 Lockheed 5C Vega in Mérida

Date & Time: Mar 31, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed 5 Vega

Operator:

Registration:

XA-BFP

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

108

YOM:

1930

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in Mérida. There were no casualties. The exact date of the mishap remains unknown, somewhere in March 1941.

Crash of a Lockheed 10E Electra in Mexico City: 8 killed

Date & Time: Dec 2, 1938 at 0755 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed 10 Electra

Operator:

Registration:

XA-BAU

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Mexico City – Mérida

MSN:

1041

YOM:

1937

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:

The takeoff procedure was started in poor visibility due to foggy conditions. During the takeoff roll, the aircraft deviated from the runway centerline and immediately after rotation, followed a wrong heading. Shortly after takeoff, while climbing, the twin engine aircraft hit the hill of Peñon de los Baños located less than a km north of the airfield. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all eight occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

The accident was attributed to the foggy weather conditions in which it had occurred, in combination with human error. Specifically, the highly experienced pilot of XA-BAU had proceeded with the flight despite the fact that aircraft were not being authorized to take off due to the poor visibility. During the ground roll, the Electra had deviated to the left of the runway, and after becoming airborne assumed a heading that took it towards the rapidly rising terrain. There was no evidence of significant technical failure in the aircraft that could have factored in the crash.

Crash of an Emsco B.3 near Chetumal: 8 killed

Date & Time: Jul 11, 1938

Type of aircraft:

Emsco B.3

Operator:

Transportes Aéreos de Chiapas

Registration:

XA-BFX

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Mérida – Chetumal

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft was on its way from Mérida to Chetumal when it crashed in unknown circumstances somewhere in the State of Quintana Roo. As the airplane failed to arrive at destination, SAR operations were initiated but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the eight occupant was ever found.