Crash of a Douglas DC-3 in Leon: 8 killed

Date & Time: Dec 28, 1947 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
XA-GEE
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Durango – Léon – Mexico City
Location:
León
Guanajuato
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from León-Guanajuato-Del Bajio Airport, the crew informed ground that an engine failed and received the authorization to return for an emergency landing. While completing a last turn, the pilot lost control of the aircraft that stalled and crashed in a residential area located near the airport. Both pilots, three passengers and three people on the ground were killed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3 near Perote: 15 killed

Date & Time: Nov 13, 1946 at 0820 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Empresa Commercial Aéreas de Veracruz
Registration:
XA-FOZ
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Mexico City – Veracruz
Location:
Perote
Veracruz
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
15
Circumstances:
While cruising at an altitude of 11,000 feet in poor weather conditions, the aircraft hit the slope of Mt Cofre de Perote located southeast of Perote, State of Veracruz. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 15 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Beechcraft SNB-1 Kansan near Texcoco de Mora: 6 killed

Date & Time: Sep 20, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft AT-11 Kansan
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Mexico City – Veracruz
Location:
Texcoco de Mora
Federal District of Mexico City
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from Mexico City Airport, the twin engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances near Texcoco de Mora, east of the Capital City. All six crew members were killed.

Crash of a Douglas DC-4 near Mexico City

Date & Time: Jun 25, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-4
Operator:
Registration:
XA-FOW
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Mexico City – Los Angeles
MSN:
10493
YOM:
1944
Location:
Mexico City
Federal District of Mexico City
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
42
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Mexico City International Airport, the crew informed ATC that the aircraft caught fire and elected to return. The captain realized this was not possible and attempted an emergency landing in a field located few km from the airport. On touchdown, the aircraft slid for several yards and came to rest in flames. All 47 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Douglas DC-2-243 in Mt Iztaccíhuatl: 16 killed

Date & Time: Aug 11, 1945 at 1600 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-2
Operator:
Registration:
XA-DOT
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Tapachula – Mexico City
MSN:
2075
YOM:
1939
Location:
Mt Iztaccíhuatl
Puebla
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
13
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
16
Circumstances:
While flying over Puebla, the crew informed ATC of his position and confirmed his altitude at 15,000 feet. Few minutes later, while cruising in poor weather conditions, the twin engine aircraft hit the slope of Mt Iztaccíhuatl located east of the capital city. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and all 16 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
According to the Mexican Authorities, the aircraft was not flying on the assigned track at the time of the accident and the crew was unable to see the mountain due to the poor visibility caused by bad weather conditions.

Crash of a Boeing 247D in San Luis Potosí: 12 killed

Date & Time: Aug 1, 1945 at 0950 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 247
Operator:
Registration:
XA-DUY
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Mexico City – San Luis Potosí – Torréon – Nogales
MSN:
1723
YOM:
1933
Location:
San Luis Potosí
San Luis Potosí
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
While on approach to San Luis Potosí, the twin engine aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located few km from the airport. All 12 occupants were killed. It was said that the accident may have been caused by an engine failure but this was not confirmed by authorities.

Crash of a Lockheed C-60A LodeStar in Mexico City: 9 killed

Date & Time: Jan 25, 1945 at 0600 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed C-60 LodeStar
Operator:
Registration:
60-01
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Government
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
18-2539
YOM:
1943
Location:
Mexico City
Federal District of Mexico City
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
The crew started the takeoff procedure by night and in foggy conditions. Shortly after rotation, the twin engine aircraft failed to climb properly, hit a perimeter fence and crashed in flames in a field located near the Balbuena District. Two crew members and seven passengers were killed, among them the Ambassador of Soviet Union in Mexico, Constantino Oumansky who was travelling to Costa Rica with his wife and his staff. Both survivors were the flight engineer Manuel Noble Mercado and the passenger Marión Troyinsky.
Crew:
Cpt Roque Velazco Cerón, pilot, †
Cpt Hilario Romero Martínez, pilot, †
Manuel Noble Mercado, flight engineer.
Probable cause:
According to the Mexican Authorities, the accident was caused by a wrong takeoff configuration on part of the crew that flew at a too low altitude after rotation.

Crash of a Lockheed 5 Vega in Mexico City

Date & Time: Nov 26, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 5 Vega
Operator:
Registration:
XA-BAW
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
059
YOM:
1929
Location:
Mexico City
Federal District of Mexico City
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances. Occupant fate unknown as well.

Crash of a Ford 5 in San Martín

Date & Time: Mar 5, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Ford 5
Operator:
Registration:
XA-BCW
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Mexico City – Chetumal
MSN:
5-AT-045
YOM:
1929
Location:
San Martín
Veracruz
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route from Mexico to Chetumal, while flying over the State of Veracruz, pilots encountered very bad weather conditions with heavy rain falls. Due to poor visibility, the captain decided to reduce his altitude and attempted an emergency landing when the three engine aircraft crashed in a wooded area located near San Martín. While all 12 occupants were uninjured, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Lockheed 5C Vega in Mexico City: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 5, 1938 at 1130 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 5 Vega
Operator:
Registration:
XA-BFR
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Mexico City - Mexico City
MSN:
124
YOM:
1930
Location:
Mexico City
Federal District of Mexico City
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
For unknown reason, the pilot took off from a taxiway. Shortly after rotation, the single engine aircraft stalled and crashed. All five passengers, LAMSA employees, were injured while the pilot Miguel Angel Padilla was killed. It appears that the flight was not granted.
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