Crash of an IAI Arava 201 in Mexico

Date & Time: Dec 31, 1998
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Country:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances somewhere in Mexico while engaged in a fire fighting mission. Occupant's fate unknown. The accident occurred somewhere in 1998, exact date unknown.

Crash of a Learjet 24D in Mexico City

Date & Time: Nov 20, 1998
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
MTX-02
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Mexico City - Veracruz
MSN:
24-313
YOM:
1975
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll at Mexico City-Benito Juárez Airport, at Vr, the pilot-in-command initiated the rotation but the aircraft failed to respond. For unknown reasons, the crew wait few seconds and attempted a second rotation but the aircraft still failed to respond. The captain decided to abort the takeoff and started an emergency braking procedure, deploying the tail parachute. Approaching the end of the runway, the pilot made a left turn then the aircraft veered off runway, lost its undercarriage and came to rest 150 metres further, bursting into flames. All seven occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Boeing 737-524 in Guadalajara

Date & Time: Sep 16, 1998 at 2253 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N20643
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Houston - Guadalajara
MSN:
28904
YOM:
1997
Flight number:
CO475
Country:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
102
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On September 16, 1998, at 2253 central daylight time, a Boeing 737-524 transport airplane, N20643, operating as Continental Airlines flight 475, was substantially damaged following a loss of control during the landing roll at the Don Miguel Hidalgo International Airport near Guadalajara, Mexico. The 2 airline transport rated pilots, the 4 flight attendants, and the 102 passengers were not injured. The airplane was owned and operated by Continental Airlines of Houston, Texas, under Title 14 CFR Part 121. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the scheduled international passenger-cargo flight for which an IFR flight plan was filed. The flight was dispatched from the George Bush International Airport near Houston, Texas, at 2056, for the two hour flight to Guadalajara, State of Jalisco, Mexico. The flight's scheduled arrival time was 2254. After executing a missed approach on their first ILS approach to runway 28, the flight was vectored for a second approach to runway 28. The second approach was reported by both pilots to be uneventful; however, after touchdown, the aircraft drifted to the left side of the runway. The left main landing gear exited the hard surface of the runway approximately 2,700 feet from the landing threshold and eventually all 3 landing gears exited the 197 foot wide asphalt runway. The first officer, who was flying the airplane, stated that he never felt any anti-skid cycling during the landing roll and did not feel any "radical braking" which was expected with the auto-brake in the number 3 setting. The airplane's nose landing gear collapsed resulting in structural damage to the avionics bay, the forward baggage compartment, the engine cowlings and pylons. Both engines incurred FOD. A total of 15 runway lights on the southern edge of runway 28 were found either sheared or knocked down. The tower operator reported that intermittent heavy rain showers accompanied with downdrafts and strong winds associated with a thunderstorm northeast of the airport prevailed throughout the area at the time of the accident. The two transport category airplanes that landed prior to Continental flight 475 reported windshear on final approach. The winds issued to Continental 475 by the tower while on short final were from 360 degrees at 20 knots, gusting to 40 knots. Prior to the arrival of Continental flight 475, an Aeromexico MD-82, drifted to the left side of the runway to the point where the left main gear exited the hard surface of the runway. The pilot of that flight stated that he used differential power to regain control and bring the aircraft back on the runway. The flight taxied to the gate without further incident.

Crash of an IAI Arava 201 near Escuintla

Date & Time: Sep 16, 1998
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft was completing a special flight to a remote area in the coast of Chiapas, carrying three crew members and a load of essential products. After landing along the motorway Tonolá - Tapachula, the right wing collided with an obstacle. The aircraft cartwheeled and came to rest. All three crew members escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. The accident occurred at km 147.

Crash of a Short SC.7 Skyvan 3 Variant 100 on Orizaba Peak: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jul 23, 1998
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
TP-214
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Mexico City – Tuxtla Gutiérrez
MSN:
1946
YOM:
1976
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Mexico City-Benito Juárez Airport on a liaison flight to Tuxtla Gutiérrez, carrying four people. While cruising at an altitude of 18,200 feet in good weather conditions on airway V22, the aircraft struck the slope of the Orizaba Peak. The wreckage was found at the altitude of 5,547 metres and all four occupants were killed. The aircraft had also the civil registration XC-UTQ.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain after the crew failed to follow the minimum safe altitude for the area. The minimum safe altitude for airway V22 is fixed at 16,000 feet except for the area of the Orizaba Peak where the minimum altitude is fixed at 21,000 feet. At the time of the accident, the visibility was estimated to be above 25 km with light mist. Thus, it is possible that the Orizaba Peak was shrouded in mist.

Crash of a Convair CV-240-53 in Zumpango: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 31, 1998 at 0420 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
XA-TAP
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Mexico City - Monterrey - Laredo
MSN:
53-13
YOM:
1954
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
11582
Copilot / Total flying hours:
264
Copilot / Total hours on type:
26
Aircraft flight hours:
26792
Circumstances:
Six minutes after his night takeoff from Mexico City-Benito Juarez Airport, en route to Monterrey and Laredo, the crew informed ATC about the failure of the right engine. The crew was cleared for an approach to runway 05R but the situation deteriorated rapidly. Shortly later, the captain requested the permission to make an approach to runway 23L and reported that the right engine caught fire. Less than a minute later, the crew attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft crashed in an open field located near Zumpango, about 45 km north of Mexico City Airport. Two occupants were seriously injured and two others were killed. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
The crew was forced to attempt an emergency landing by night and IMC conditions following the failure and the fire of the right engine.
Final Report:

Crash of a Learjet 24D in Tampico: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 2, 1998 at 1110 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
XA-RRK
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Houston - Tampico
MSN:
24-307
YOM:
1975
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
10911
Copilot / Total flying hours:
5761
Aircraft flight hours:
8095
Circumstances:
On approach to Tampico-General Francisco Javier Mina Airport, the crew established on the ILS. The aircraft descended below the glide and MDA until it struck the ground and crashed in a lagoon located 12,8 km short of runway. A pilot and two passengers were killed while five other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
The decision of the crew to continue the approach under VFR mode in IMC conditions (foggy conditions), allowing the aircraft to descend below the minimum descent altitude until impact with the ground.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL off Guerrero Negro

Date & Time: Dec 20, 1997 at 1440 LT
Registration:
XA-CUC
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Guerrero Negro - Isla de Cedros
MSN:
7377
YOM:
1943
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Guerrero Negro Airport, while climbing, the aircraft nosed down and crashed in the San Jose estuary, few hundred metres offshore. All five occupants were rescued while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Douglas DC-9-32 in Mexico City

Date & Time: Oct 15, 1997 at 2030 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
XA-DEJ
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
47594
YOM:
1973
Country:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
67
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The base of the empennage struck the runway surface upon landing at Mexico City-Benito Juárez Airport. The aircraft was stopped on the runway and all 72 occupants evacuated safely. The aircraft was written off.

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: