Tijuana-General Abelardo L. Rodríguez

Shortly after takeoff from runway 09 at Tijuana-General Abelardo L. Rodríguez Airport, while in initial climb, the twin engine aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed onto a garage, bursting into flames. Both occupants as well as one people in his car were killed.

The twin engine departed Tijuana Airport at 0800LT on a flight to Guaymas with two pilots on board. On approach, the aircraft impacted a wooded mountain located 32 km short of runway. Both occupants were killed.

Following an uneventful flight from Tijuana, the aircraft landed too far down the runway 28 at Mexicali-General Rodolfo Sanchez Taboada Airport. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, it overran, rolled for about 750 metres, collided with an embankment and came to rest in a sandy area. All six occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. The aircraft had the dual registration XC-PFN (civil) and PF-213 (military).

While descending to Tijuana-General Abelardo L. Rodríguez Airport in good weather conditions, the crew informed ATC about the failure of both engines. The captain attempted an emergency landing in an open field located in the Las Palmas Valley, about 24 km from Tijuana Airport. The aircraft slid on its belly for few dozen metres and came to rest. All 32 occupants escaped uninjured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

While approaching Ensenada Airport by night and foggy conditions, the crew failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the aircraft struck a hill located few km from the airport. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and all eight occupants were killed. It is believed that the crew did not receive any clearance to approach Ensenada Airport and continued the descent at an insufficient altitude.

The approach to Tijuana-General Abelardo L. Rodríguez Airport was completed in poor weather conditions with clouds down to 180 metres. On short final, the captain realized his position was not correct and made several correction but inefficiently. The aircraft landed hard, right main gear first. On impact, both tires on the right main gear burst. The aircraft went out of control, veered to right and came to rest. All six occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

At approximately 0600, the aircraft departed Guerrero Negro, Mexico on an air taxi flight to Tijuana, Mexico. At 0715, the Tijuana weather was reported as partially obscured, visibility 1 mile with fog, haze and smoke, wind calm. During arrival, the pilot was cleared for an ILS runway 09 approach and reported over the final approach fix. However, the aircraft crashed at about 0759, before reaching the middle marker, which was 1/2 mile from the approach end of runway 09. Impact was on a ridge about 110 feet below the airport elevation and approximately 100 yards north of the international border. The aircraft was found a short time later by US Border patrol personnel. No preimpact part failure or malfunction was found. The 0800 weather at Tijuana was in part: sky partially obscured, visibility 1/10 mile with fog and haze, wind 210° at 4 knots. About 1 mile north at Brown Field, the weather was in part: sky partially obscured, visibility 3/4 mile with fog and haze, wind 280° at 4 knots. A toxicology check of the pilot's blood showed an alcohol level of 0.7‰. Calculations showed the sun would have been 16 ° above the horizon on a magnetic azimuth of 89.8°. All six occupants were killed.

AeroMéxico flight AM498 was a scheduled passenger flight from Mexico City to Los Angeles with intermediate stops at Guadalajara, Loreto and Tijuana. The DC-9, named 'Hermosillo', departed Tijuana Airport at 11:20 and proceeded toward Los Angeles at FL100. At 11:44 Coast Approach Control cleared the flight to 7,000 feet. Just three minutes earlier Piper PA-28-181 Cherokee N4891F departed Torrance Airport, CA for a VFR flight to Big Bear, CA. On board were a pilot and two passengers. The Piper pilot turned to an easterly heading toward the Paradise VORTAC and entered the Terminal Control Area (TCA) without receiving clearance from ATC as required by FAR Part 91.90. At 11:47 the AeroMéxico pilot contacted LA Approach Control and reported level at 7,000 feet. The approach controller cleared flight 498 to depart Seal Beach on a heading of 320 degrees for the ILS runway "two five left final approach course...". At 11:51:04, the approach controller asked the flight to reduce its airspeed to 190 KIAS and cleared it to descend to 6,000 feet. At about 11:52:09, flight 498 and the Piper collided over Cerritos at an altitude of about 6,560 feet. The Piper struck the left hand side of the DC-9's horizontal and vertical stabilizer. The horizontal stabilizer sliced through the Piper's cabin following which it separated from the tailplane. Both planes tumbled down out of control. The wreckage and post impact fires destroyed five houses and damaged seven others. Fifteen persons on the ground were killed. The sky was clear, the reported visibility was 14 miles.

The twin engine airplane was completing a special flight from Monterrey to Tijuana on behalf of the General Attorney of the Republic of Mexico. On final approach to Tijuana-General Abelardo L. Rodriguez Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and failed to realize his altitude was too low when the airplane struck a power pole (14 feet high) and crashed in flames about two miles short of runway threshold, on US territory. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 10 occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, the visibility was limited to a half of mile due to low ceiling and fog.

Following an uneventful flight from Mexico City, the crew started the descent to Tijuana-Rodriguez Airport when he encountered technical difficulties with one main gear that was not locked down. The captain decided to follow a holding pattern over Tijuana but few minutes later, he was forced to land due to fuel shortage. Upon touchdown, one of the main gear collapsed. The airplane slid for several dozen yards before coming to rest. While all 82 occupants were evacuated safely, the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.