Torreón | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The aircraft was completing a charter flight from Cuernavaca to Chihuahua with an intermediate stop in Torreón, carrying eight passengers and a crew of three. After passing Delicias VOR at an altitude of 10,000 feet, the crew started the descent but failed to follow the published procedures. At an altitude of 7,000 feet on descent, the aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located 42 km south of Chihuahua Airport. The aircraft was totally destroyed upon impact and all 11 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Impact against mountainous terrain due to lack of application by the crew of the approach and entry procedures to runway 36R, approved and published in the aeronautical information publications manual (AIP), and failure to comply with the tower instructions by not maintaining the minimum safe altitude required during the descent.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-70-DL in Laredo

Date & Time: Jan 18, 1989 at 2043 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

XB-DYP

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Laredo - Torreón

MSN:

19239

YOM:

1943

Location:

Laredo

Texas

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

8000

Captain / Total hours on type:

3800.00

Circumstances:

The pilot stated that during takeoff from runway 35L, the copilot on the flight controls reduced left propeller and right engine power at an altitude of less than 100 feet agl. He attempted to restore takeoff power while applying forward pressure on the control yoke, but lost control of the aircraft and impacted the terrain adjacent to the departure runway. He further stated that the cargo may have shifted to the rear of the aircraft during takeoff. The aircraft was destroyed and both pilots were seriously injured.

Probable cause:

The pic's disregard for the security of the cargo that permitted its shift during the takeoff roll. This resulted in an aft cg situation and a subsequent stall and loss of aircraft control. A contributing factor in the accident was the mismanagement of the engine power by the crew and the lack of experience of the copilot.
Occurrence #1: cargo shift
Phase of operation: takeoff - initial climb
Findings
1. (f) security of cargo - disregarded - pilot in command
2. (f) procedure inadequate - pilot in command
3. (c) aircraft weight and balance - exceeded
----------
Occurrence #2: loss of control - in flight
Phase of operation: takeoff - initial climb
Findings
4. (f) throttle/power control - reduced - copilot/second pilot
5. (f) lack of total experience in type of aircraft - copilot/second pilot
6. (f) propeller - reduced - copilot/second pilot
7. (c) airspeed (vs) - not maintained - pilot in command
8. Stall/mush - inadvertent - pilot in command
----------
Occurrence #3: in flight collision with terrain/water
Phase of operation: descent - uncontrolled
Findings
9. Terrain condition - grass

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft D18 in Brownsville: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 5, 1983 at 2010 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft D18

Operator:

Isabel Castillo

Registration:

N44609

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Brownsville - Torreón

MSN:

A-17

YOM:

1945

Location:

Brownsville-South Padre Island

Texas

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The pilot had just taken off at night on a flight to Mexico when he declared an intent to return and land with some unspecified emergency. While he was using his radio, the sound of both engines, running at high power, was audible. When asked if he required assistance, he gave an affirmative reply, but when asked if he required a crash crew, he gave a negative reply. Shortly after that, the aircraft collided with power lines about 1 mile from the runway, then impacted the ground and was demolished by fire. Impact with the power lines occurred at about 55 feet agl. A wire impact mark on the nose door indicated the aircraft was in a vertical bank when the collision occurred. An exam of the wreckage revealed no evidence of a preimpact/mechanical malfunction or failure; however, there was extensive damage from fire. There was evidence that the aircraft was loaded beyond its max certificated gross weight. The pilot had a temporary US license based on his canadian license. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Probable cause:

Occurrence #1: airframe/component/system failure/malfunction
Phase of operation: unknown
Findings
1. (c) reason for occurrence undetermined
----------
Occurrence #2: in flight collision with object
Phase of operation: maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency)
Findings
2. (f) aircraft weight and balance - exceeded - pilot in command
3. Precautionary landing - attempted - pilot in command
4. (f) light condition - dark night
5. (f) object - wire,transmission
6. (c) proper altitude - not maintained - pilot in command

Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed 5 Vega in Los Mochis

Date & Time: Feb 25, 1959 at 1624 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed 5 Vega

Operator:

Registration:

XB-BUT

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Torréon – Los Mochis

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 from Torréon to Los Mochis, carrying a load of three tons of shrimp according to various sources. While approaching Los Mochis Airport, the single engine airplane crashed in a field, injuring all three occupants. If the total weight of the cargo is confirmed to be three tons, this should remains a major issue as the Lockheed Vega MTOW certification is just above two tons.

Crash of a Lockheed 5C Vega in Durango

Date & Time: Feb 22, 1945 at 0805 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed 5 Vega

Operator:

Registration:

XA-BFT

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Monclova – Torreón – Durango

MSN:

YOM:

1929

Location:

Durango

Country:

Mexico

Region:

Central America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed on landing at Durango Airport. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and all five occupants were injured.

Crash of a Bach 3-CTS Air Yacht near Durango: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 13, 1939 at 1015 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bach 3-CT Air Yacht

Operator:

Registration:

XB-AFH

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Torreón – Mazatlán

MSN:

YOM:

1929

Location:

Durango

Country:

Mexico

Region:

Central America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route from Torreón to Mazatlán, the pilot encountered poor visibility due to fog when the aircraft impacted the slope of a mountain located in the Sierra de Durango, in the region of Durango. All three occupants were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Pedro Arzac Faría.
Passengers:
Mr. & Mrs. William Stephen Grooch.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Ryan B-1 Brougham in Torreón: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 28, 1931 at 1020 LT

Type of aircraft:

Ryan B-1 Brougham

Operator:

Registration:

XA-BHD

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Torreón - Torreón

MSN:

YOM:

1927

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was completing a local training flight at Torreón Airport when the accident occurred in unknown circumstances. The aircraft was destroyed and all three occupants were killed.