Crash of a Douglas DC-9-32 near Zihuatanejo: 18 killed

Date & Time: Nov 8, 1981
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
XA-DEO
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Acapulco - Guadalajara
MSN:
47622/753
YOM:
1974
Flight number:
AM110
Country:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
18
Circumstances:
Thirty-five minutes after takeoff from Acapulco-General Juan N. Álvarez Airport, while cruising at an altitude of 31,000 feet, the aircraft suffered a cabin decompression. The crew declared an emergency and was cleared to reduce his altitude and to return to Acapulco for an emergency landing. Few minutes later, at an altitude of 6,000 feet, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain and crashed in the Sierra of Guerro, about 65 km east of Zihuatanejo. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 18 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the cabin decompression remains unknown while the crew failed to follow emergency procedures.

Crash of a Douglas DC-9-32 in Chihuahua: 32 killed

Date & Time: Jul 27, 1981 at 1628 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
XA-DEN
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Monterrey – Chihuahua – Hermosillo – Tijuana
MSN:
47621
YOM:
1974
Flight number:
AM230
Country:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
60
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
32
Circumstances:
On approach to Chihuahua-General Roberto Fierro Villalobos Airport, the crew encountered bad weather conditions with heavy rain falls, thunderstorms and strong winds. On short final, just prior to flare, the airplane was caught by downdrafts and struck the runway surface. It bounced then veered off runway to the right. The airplane rolled for few dozen meters then came to rest in flames, broken in two. 34 occupants were injured while 32 others were killed, among them two crew members. At the time of the accident, there was thunderstorms in the approach path with heavy rain falls and wind gusting to 54 knots.
Probable cause:
Loss of control just prior to flare after being caught by downdrafts and turbulences.

Crash of a Convair CV-440-11 Metropolitan on Mt Pinarete: 24 killed

Date & Time: May 21, 1981 at 1600 LT
Operator:
Registration:
XA-KEH
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Puerto Escondido - Oaxaca
MSN:
327
YOM:
1956
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
21
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
24
Circumstances:
While cruising at an altitude of 8,867 feet on a flight from Puerto Escondido to Oaxaca de Juárez, the airplane struck the slope of Mt Pinarete. The wreckage was found few hours later and all 24 occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, the cloud base was reported at 10,000 feet.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Vicente Guerrero

Date & Time: May 9, 1981
Operator:
Registration:
N60705
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
4638
YOM:
1942
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Upon landing at Vicente Guerrero, the airplane went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest. Both pilots were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a BAe 125-700A in Monterrey: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 2, 1981
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
XA-KEW
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Reynosa - Monterrey
MSN:
257096
YOM:
1980
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane was completing a charter flight from Reynosa to Monterrey, carrying four passengers and a crew of two. On final approach by night, the pilots failed to realize their altitude was too low when the airplane struck trees and crashed 6,5 km short of runway. The wreckage was found 10 hours later. Both pilots and two passengers were killed. Two other passengers were seriously injured, among them the Peruvian actress Patricia Aspíllaga. Her husband, the Mexican businessman Arturo Ornelas, did not survive.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the crew failed to prepare the flight properly and failed to follow the approach checklist. Following a wrong altimeter setting, the airplane descending too low on final until it struck trees and crashed. The lack of visibility caused by night was considered as a contributing factor.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-30-DL near Jareros: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 2, 1981
Operator:
Registration:
N258M
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
MSN:
9555
YOM:
1943
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was completing an illegal flight and was approaching an airstrip located near Jareros when the airplane struck a hill and crashed. Both occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3-322 near Salinas

Date & Time: Mar 25, 1981
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N3VB
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
2220
YOM:
1940
Country:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances near Salinas. There were no injuries among the occupant while the aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire.

Crash of a Beechcraft E90 King Air in Monterrey: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 2, 1981
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
XB-IQY
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
LW-113
YOM:
1974
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Monterrey-General Mariano Escobido Airport, while in initial climb, the twin engine airplane went out of control and crashed about 3 km north of the airfield. One occupant was seriously injured while three others were killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was the consequence of an engine failure for undermined reasons.

Crash of a BAe 125-400A in Cancún: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 26, 1980 at 2315 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
XA-CUZ
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Cancún - Monterrey
MSN:
25279
YOM:
1972
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Following a night takeoff at Cancún Airport, the airplane descended into trees and crashed in a wooded area, about one km from the runway end. The aircraft was destroyed and all three crew members were killed. The crew was engaged in a positioning flight to Monterrey.