Crash of a Lockheed L-1329 JetStar 731 in Guadalajara

Date & Time: Nov 16, 1995
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
XA-MIK
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Mexico City – Guadalajara
MSN:
5066
YOM:
1965
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On approach to Guadalajara-Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla Airport, the crew contacted ATC and reported that all hydraulic systems failed. After being able to lower the undercarriage manually, the crew continued the approach but landed on runway 10 in a flapless configuration. Because the brakes and the thrust reversers were unserviceable, the crew was unable to stop the aircraft within the remaining distance. The aircraft overran, struck a drainage ditch and came to rest 300 metres past the runway end. All occupants were rescued, among them five were slightly injured.
Probable cause:
Loss of control upon landing after all hydraulic systems failed on approach.

Crash of a Sud-Aviation SE-210 Caravelle 10B3 near Cabo San Lucas

Date & Time: Nov 4, 1995
Registration:
HK-3962X
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
184
YOM:
1965
Country:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in a dry lake located in the region of Cabo San Lucas, while engaged in an illegal contraband flight. Nobody was found in the airplane that was carrying a load of cocaine. At the time of the accident, the aircraft had a false registration HK-4029X.

Crash of a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan near Piedras Negras: 9 killed

Date & Time: Oct 31, 1995 at 2050 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
XA-SVM
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Saltillo - Piedras Negras
MSN:
208B-0214
YOM:
1990
Flight number:
TAC108
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
The pilot started the descent to Piedras Negras by night with a limited visibility due to poor weather conditions (drizzle and mist). Too low, the single engine aircraft struck the slope of a hill located 16 km from Piedras Negras Airport. Two passengers were seriously injured while nine other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain after the pilot decided to continue the descent in below minima weather conditions.

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 Learjet 35 in Magdalena de Kino

Date & Time: Jun 12, 1995 at 1040 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
XA-SVX
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Veracruz - Nogales
MSN:
35-012
YOM:
1975
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route from Veracruz to Nogales, while 112 km from the destination, the crew declared an emergency following a fire in the left engine and was cleared to divert to Magdalena de Kino Airport. The aircraft landed too far down the runway which is 1,386 metres long. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overran and came to rest few dozen metres further, bursting into flames. All four occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the fire in the left engine was the consequence of a hydraulic leak. Aircraft performances were reduced and the crew was unable to complete a safe landing.

Crash of a Piper PA-61P Aerostar (Ted Smith 601) in Cuernavaca: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 4, 1995
Operator:
Registration:
N720EM
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Cuernavaca - Dallas
MSN:
61-0834-8163441
YOM:
1981
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff, one of the engine failed. The pilot elected to make an emergency landing when the aircraft crashed near the runway end. Both occupants were killed, among them Eduardo Mata, Mexican conductor and composer. He was accompanied by Marina Anaya and was en route to Dallas, TX.
Probable cause:
Engine failure on takeoff for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Swearingen SA226AC Metro II in Uruapan: 9 killed

Date & Time: Jun 13, 1994 at 1845 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
XA-SLU
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Lázaro Cárdenas – Uruapan
MSN:
TC-401
YOM:
1981
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Captain / Total flying hours:
7830
Captain / Total hours on type:
1049.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
2373
Copilot / Total hours on type:
1508
Aircraft flight hours:
17737
Circumstances:
While descending to Uruapan-General Ignacio López Rayón Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and limited visibility due to the night and rain falls. ATC instructed the crew to carry out an instrument approach but the pilots insisted for a visual approach to runway 02. Because the crew was unable to establish a visual contact with the runway, he decided to initiate a go-around procedure, completed a right turn and attempted a second approach few minutes later that was also abandoned for the same reasons. This time, the captain initiated a turn to the left in an attempt to make a visual approach to runway 20, which was non compliant with the published procedures. Shortly later, while at an altitude of 1,200 metres, the twin engine aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located 5,9 km northwest of the airport. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and all nine occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Failure of the crew to comply with the approach and go-around published procedures. The lack of visibility due to the night and rain was considered as a contributing factor.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 500 Citation I/SP in Ciudad Alemán: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 25, 1994
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
XA-SMH
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Veracruz - Ciudad Alemán
MSN:
500-0084
YOM:
1973
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a positioning flight from Veracruz. After touchdown, the crew encountered difficulties to stop the aircraft within the remaining distance (runway 13/31 is 1,300 metres long). It overran and eventually crashed past the runway end. The aircraft was destroyed and both pilots were killed.
Probable cause:
Apparently following a wrong approach configuration (the aircraft was too high on approach), the crew landed too far down the runway and failed to initiate a go-around procedure. After touchdown, the landing distance available was insufficient.

Crash of a Piper PA-61P Aerostar (Ted Smith 601P) near Campeche

Date & Time: Nov 23, 1993 at 1435 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N32RG
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Campeche - New Orleans
MSN:
61P-0514-214
YOM:
1978
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Five minutes after takeoff from Campeche Airport, both engines started to surge and lost power. The pilot reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft crash landed about 16 km from Campeche. All four occupants were slightly injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the engine failed after the aircraft was refueled with Jet A1 iso 100LL.