Crash of a Learjet 25 near Iturbide: 7 killed

Date & Time: Dec 9, 2012 at 0333 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N345MC
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Monterrey - Toluca
MSN:
25-046
YOM:
1969
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Captain / Total flying hours:
22610
Copilot / Total hours on type:
67
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Monterrey-General Mariano Escobido Airport at 0315LT on a flight to Toluca, carrying five passengers and two pilots. Few minutes later, while cruising at 28,700 feet via radial 163, the aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in a mountainous area located near Iturbide, in the south part of the Parque Natural Sierra de Arteaga, some 100 km south of Monterrey. Debris were found scattered on an area of approximately 300 metres and all seven occupants were killed, among them the American-Mexican singer Dolores Jenney Rivera, aged 43. She was accompanied with her impresario and members of her team. They left Monterrey after she gave a concert and they should fly to Toluca to take part to a TV show.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the loss of control could not be determined. However, it was reported that the pilot aged 78 was not allowed to conduct commercial flight due to his age. Also, the young copilot aged 21 did not have a type rating for such aircraft.
Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-46-310P Malibu in Toluca: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 15, 2006 at 1220 LT
Operator:
Registration:
XB-JVH
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Monterrey – Acapulco
MSN:
46-8508032
YOM:
1985
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The single engine aircraft departed Monterrey-Del Norte Airport at 0827LT on a private flight to Acapulco, carrying six passengers and one pilot. About three hours and a half into the flight, while in cruising altitude, the pilot contacted ATC, declared an emergency and was cleared to divert to Toluca Airport. On final approach, the engine failed. The aircraft stalled, collided with a fence and eventually crashed in a deconstruction site located 1,600 metres short of runway 15. Two passengers were seriously injured while five other occupants escaped with minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. Few hours later, one of the survivor, the Mexican actor Pablo Santos aged 19, died from his injuries, and a second survivor passed away a day later. It was later reported by the authorities that Pablo Santos was seating on the floor and was not strapped.
Probable cause:
Engine failure caused by a fuel exhaustion. Investigations reported that a total of 8 liters of fuel remained in the tanks at the time of the accident.

Crash of an IAI-1124 Westwind near El Devanador: 7 killed

Date & Time: Feb 24, 2005 at 1537 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
XC-COL
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Toluca - Colima
MSN:
279
YOM:
1979
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Captain / Total flying hours:
4350
Copilot / Total flying hours:
6597
Aircraft flight hours:
8523
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Toluca Airport at 1516LT on a flight to Colima, carrying five members of the Colima Government and two pilots. Fifteen minutes into the flight, while cruising at an altitude of 16,000 feet, the crew informed ATC about control problems and was cleared to divert to Morelia Airport via radial 160. Shortly later, the aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in a wooded and mountainous terrain located near El Devanador. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all seven occupants were killed.
Crew:
Mario Torres, pilot,
Germán Ascencio, copilot.
Passengers:
Gustavo Vázquez Montes, Governor of the State of Colima,
Roberto Preciado Cuevas, delegate secretary for Tourism,
Ignacio Peralta, delegate secretary for Economy,
Luis Barreda Cedillo, delegate secretary for Finances,
Guillermo Díaz, Director of Tourism.
Probable cause:
Sudden descent during cruise flight and loss of control of the aircraft due to flight control problems. The following findings were identified:
- A possible failure of the horizontal stabilizer actuator,
- A possible abrupt change in the attitude of the aircraft due to the position of the centre of gravity,
- Possible improper crew actions to resolve the emergency,
- A possible crew neglect of position and indication of flight controls.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 685 in Toluca: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 11, 2005 at 2110 LT
Operator:
Registration:
XB-PRS
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Cancún – Toluca
MSN:
685-12050
YOM:
1973
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
On February 12, 2005, at 2110 central standard time, a Twin Commander 685 twin-engine airplane, Mexican registration XB-PRS, was destroyed upon impact with the ground following a loss of control during approach near Toluca, State of Mexico, in the Republic of Mexico. The commercial pilot was seriously injured and the two passengers were fatally injured. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the domestic business flight. The flight originated from Cancun, State of Quintana Roo, Mexico, approximately 1930, with the Toluca International Airport as its intended destination. According to local authorities, the 1973-model airplane, serial number 12050, destroyed one residence and damaged two others when it crashed in a residential area near the airport. There were no injuries to anyone on the ground.

Crash of a Cessna 402B near Tecalitlán: 8 killed

Date & Time: Sep 13, 2003 at 1830 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
XB-FTA
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Toluca – Colima
MSN:
402B-1049
YOM:
1976
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
While cruising under VFR mode at an altitude of 8,400 feet in poor weather conditions, the twin engine aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located near Tecalitlán. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all eight occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, weather conditions were poor over State of Jalisco due to a tropical storm with heavy rain falls and strong winds.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain after the pilot decided to continue under VFR mode in IMC conditions.

Crash of a BAe 125-522-1A in Toluca: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jul 9, 1999 at 0430 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
XA-TAL
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Los Mochis – Toluca
MSN:
25064
YOM:
1965
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Los Mochis Airport on a cargo flight to Toluca on behalf of DHL. On descend, the crew was informed by ATC that the visibility was reduced to 1,600 metres due to foggy conditions. While on a night approach to Toluca-Adolfo López Mateos Airport, the crew descended below the MDA, probably to establish a visual contact with the ground. On short final, the aircraft struck a two metres high concrete wall located 350 metres short of runway 15 and crashed, bursting into flames. All four occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain on short final after the crew decided to carry out an approach under VFR mode in IMC conditions until the aircraft impacted terrain. The following contributing factors were identified:
- Poor visibility due to foggy conditions,
- Captain's overconfidence.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell 1121B Jet Commander in Las Carboneras: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 20, 1997 at 1845 LT
Registration:
N1121F
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
El Paso - Toluca
MSN:
1121-150
YOM:
1969
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While cruising at an altitude of 37,000 feet on a flight from El Paso to Toluca, the was cleared to climb to 41,000 feet to avoid a thunderstorm area. Shortly later, the aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed near the village of Las Carboneras. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all four occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control during cruise flight after the aircraft encountered severe turbulences while flying in thunderstorm area with cumulonimbus and severe turbulences.
Final Report:

Crash of a Learjet 35A in Tepic: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 22, 1995 at 2330 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
XA-SWF
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Ciudad Obregón - Toluca
MSN:
35-391
YOM:
1981
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
11408
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Ciudad Obregón Airport at 2001LT on a charter flight to Toluca, carrying four passengers and two pilots. For unknown reasons, the crew cancelled the flight plan and returned to Ciudad Obregón. A second takeoff was recorded at 2118LT and en route, the crew cancelled again the flight plan as he wanted to divert to Tepic, then Guadalajara and later Puerto Vallarta. After ATC informed the crew that Guadalajara Airport was closed to traffic, the crew finally decided to fly to Tepic. But this airport was also closed to traffic. On final approach to Tepic Airport, the crew failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the aircraft struck the ground and crashed 8,3 km short of runway 02. At the time of the accident, the airport was closed and the approach light system was off. One of the passenger was the drug lord Héctor Luis Palma Salazar who was later arrested.
Probable cause:
The crew attempted to land by night on an airport that was closed to traffic (opening time 0600-1800LT) and continued the approach below the minimum safe altitude until the aircraft impacted terrain.
Final Report:

Crash of a Convair CV-440 Metropolitan near Toluca

Date & Time: Nov 30, 1989
Registration:
XA-NAU
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
411
YOM:
1957
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
An engine failed en route, forcing the crew to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed in an open field near Toluca and was damaged beyond repair. Both occupants escaped uninjured. The exact date of the mishap remains unknown, somewhere in November 1989.
Probable cause:
Engine failure for unknown reasons.