Crash of a Swearingen SA227AC Metro III in Saltillo

Date & Time: Sep 15, 2022 at 1635 LT
Type of aircraft:
Swearingen SA227 Metro III
Operator:
Registration:
XA-UMW
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Saltillo - Laredo
MSN:
AC-717
YOM:
1988
Flight number:
VTM717
Location:
Saltillo
Coahuila
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After takeoff from runway 35 at Saltillo-Plan de Guadalupe Airport, while climbing to an altitude of 800 feet, the crew encountered technical issues with the right engine that lost power and started to vibrate. The crew reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft crashed in bushes about 4,5 km northwest of the airport and came to rest. Both pilots were uninjured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Piper PA-31-325 in La Libertad: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 14, 2022
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-310 Navajo
Operator:
Registration:
N325FA
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Illegal (smuggling)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
La Libertad
Campeche
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane was completing an illegal/contraband flight from Colombia. After entering illegally the Mexican airspace, the airplane was tracked by two Embraer ERJ-145 and three UH-60 Black Hawk of the Mexican Air Force. The crew landed in a prairie located near La Libertad, Campeche. Upon touchdown, the airplane lost its undercarriage and slid for few dozen metres before hitting a person on ground and coming to rest. All occupants and people who were supposed to take delivery of the load fled the scene before the police arrived. The person apparently hit by a propeller was killed. A load of 460 kg of cocaine was found in the cabin. The airplane was operated with the false registration N325FA.

Crash of a Piper PA-31-325 Navajo in Santiago de Querétaro: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 13, 2022 at 1220 LT
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-310 Navajo
Operator:
Global Avionics
Registration:
N28DF
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Santiago de Querétaro – Morelia
MSN:
31-7812121
YOM:
1978
Location:
Santiago de Querétaro
Querétaro
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Santiago de Querétaro Airport, while climbing, the twin engine airplane went out of control and crashed inverted in a maize field located near the airport. The aircraft was destroyed and both occupants were killed.

Crash of a Piper PA-61P Aerostar near Durango: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 23, 2022 at 1829 LT
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-61 Aerostar (Ted Smith 601)
Operator:
Raul Ignacion Posada
Registration:
N66CG
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Celaya - Durango
MSN:
61-0277-061
YOM:
1976
Location:
Durango
Durango
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
While approaching Durango Airport on a flight from Celaya, the twin engine aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in an open field located near the village of Ceballos, about 16 km northwest of the Durango Intl Airport. The burned wreckage was found near the Peña del Aguila Dam. Both occupants were killed.

Crash of a Cessna 340A in Los Mochis

Date & Time: Apr 6, 2022 at 1748 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 340
Operator:
Registration:
XB-GHU
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Los Mochis - Club Aéreo Nuevo Santa Rosa
MSN:
340A-0506
YOM:
1978
Location:
Club Aéreo Nuevo Santa Rosa (Los Mochis)
Sinaloa
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The pilot, sole on board, departed Los Mochis International Airport on a flight to the Club Aéreo Nuevo Santa Rosa located east-northeast of the city. After landing on a road, the airplane suffered an apparent undercarriage failure, veered to the right and came to rest in a grassy area, bursting into flames. The pilot evacuated safely while the aircraft suffered serious damages due to fire.

Crash of a Beechcraft C90A King Air in Cuernavaca: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 28, 2022
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft 90 King Air
Operator:
Registration:
N426EM
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
City
Schedule:
Acapulco – Cuernavaca
MSN:
LJ-1352
YOM:
1993
Location:
Cuernavaca
Morelos
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed Acapulco-General Juan N. Álvarez Airport on a private flight to Cuernavaca, carrying six passengers and one pilot. On final approach to Cuernavaca Airport runway 20, the airplane crashed on a supermarket located in Temixco, some 2 km short of runway. The pilot and two passengers were killed while four other occupants were injured.

Crash of a Piper PA-46-350P Malibu Mirage in Mazatlán

Date & Time: Feb 13, 2022
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-46 (Malibu/Meridian/Mirage/Matrix/M-Class)
Operator:
Registration:
XB-SUA
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
46-36378
YOM:
2006
Location:
Mazatlán
Sinaloa
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route, the pilot encountered engine problems and elected to make an emergency landing on a motorway. Upon landing, the aircraft impacted the road bank, lost its left wing and came to rest. All six occupants evacuated with minor injuries and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Cessna 401 in Tapachula: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 19, 2021 at 0716 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 401
Operator:
Registration:
XB-RQE
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Geographical / Geophysical / Scientific
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Tapachula – Tapachula
MSN:
401-0268
YOM:
1969
Location:
Tapachula
Chiapas
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
1647
Captain / Total hours on type:
1397.00
Aircraft flight hours:
5237
Circumstances:
The pilot, sole on board, departed Tapachula Airport on a local flight to release Mediterranean flies. A flight plan of four hours was filed, with an altitude of 9,500 feet. The flies should be released in an area corresponding to 60 - 100 NM around the Tapachula VOR. Shortly after takeoff from Tapachula Airport Runway 05, while climbing to an altitude of 1,000 feet, the pilot reported engine problems. The aircraft turned to the right then entered an uncontrolled descent until it crashed in a mango plantation. The airplane was destroyed and the pilot was killed.
Probable cause:
Impact of the aircraft against the ground during a tight turn towards the side of the right engine, which showed inadequate performance.
The following contributing factors were identified:
- Continuing the flight despite intermittent failures in the fuel flow of engine number 2,
- Failure to adhere to the abnormal engine failure procedure during takeoff,
- Fatigue fracture of the fuel pump shaft of engine number 2.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft C90A King Air in Durango: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 18, 2021 at 0935 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft 90 King Air
Operator:
Aspa Servicios
Registration:
N333WW
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
San Luis Potosí – Durango
MSN:
LJ-1741
YOM:
2005
Location:
Durango
Durango
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
4947
Aircraft flight hours:
3099
Circumstances:
On final approach to Durango-Guadalupe Victoria Airport following an uneventful flight from San Luis Potosí, the twin engine airplane was unstable. The crew decided to make a sudden descent below the minimum descent altitude without visual contact with the runway, resulting in an initial impact with the runway surface and subsequently with an open drainage ditch located between runway 03/21 and taxiway 'A'. The airplane came to rest upside and burst into flames. One pilot was seriously injured and the second occupant was killed.
Probable cause:
Poor management by the flight crew: of the approach and multiple deviations from operational procedures, due to a lack of training, which placed the aircraft in an unsafe situation and resulted in an unstabilised approach. They decided to make a sudden descent below the minimum descent altitude without visual contact with the runway, resulting in an initial impact with the runway surface and subsequently with an open drainage channel between runway 03/21 and taxiway "A," which stopped the movement.
The following contributing factors were identified:
- Lack of training and operational supervision of the flight crew,
- Lack of a formal operational safety program,
- Abrupt changes in the attitude and heading of the aircraft,
- Poor management of cockpit resources,
- Inadequate decision-making by not performing a missed approach,
- Presence of an drainage ditch located between runway 03/21 and taxiway 'A',
- Lack of supervision by the Federal Civil Aviation Agency of the flight operations of aircraft with foreign registration.
Final Report:

Crash of a Learjet 25B in Toluca

Date & Time: Apr 18, 2021 at 1527 LT
Type of aircraft:
Learjet 25
Operator:
Registration:
XB-PIZ
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Cancún - Toluca
MSN:
25-193
YOM:
1975
Location:
Toluca
México
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Cancún, the crew encountered technical problems with the undercarriage while on approach to Toluca-Licenciado Adolfo López Mateos. Decision was taken to complete a belly landing on runway 15/33. The airplane slid for few dozen metres before coming to rest, bursting into flames. All 9 occupants evacuated safely and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Subscribe to Mexico