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

Date & Time: May 21, 1981 at 1600 LT
Type of aircraft:
Convair CV-440 Metropolitan
Operator:
Registration:
XA-KEH
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Puerto Escondido - Oaxaca
MSN:
327
YOM:
1956
Location:
Mt Pinarete
Oaxaca
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
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
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Skytrain Air
Registration:
N60705
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
4638
YOM:
1942
Location:
Vicente Guerrero
Durango
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
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:
BAe 125
Operator:
Registration:
XA-KEW
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Reynosa - Monterrey
MSN:
257096
YOM:
1980
Location:
Monterrey-General Mariano Escobedo
Nuevo León
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
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
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Skytrain Air
Registration:
N258M
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Illegal (smuggling)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
9555
YOM:
1943
Location:
Jareros
Veracruz
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
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:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Sun Valley Aviation
Registration:
N3VB
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
2220
YOM:
1940
Location:
Salinas
San Luis Potosí
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
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:
Beechcraft 90 King Air
Operator:
Solventes y Productos Químicos
Registration:
XB-IQY
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
LW-113
YOM:
1974
Location:
Monterrey-General Mariano Escobedo
Nuevo León
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
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:
BAe 125
Operator:
Registration:
XA-CUZ
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Cancún - Monterrey
MSN:
25279
YOM:
1972
Location:
Cancún
Quintana Roo
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
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.

Crash of a Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain in Magdalena de Kino: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 30, 1980 at 1415 LT
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain
Operator:
Registration:
N3542X
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Guaymas - Tucson
MSN:
31-7952239
YOM:
1979
Location:
Magdalena de Kino
Sonora
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
4800
Captain / Total hours on type:
1079.00
Circumstances:
While on a taxi flight from Guaymas to Tucson, the pilot contacted ATC and reported an engine fire. He was cleared to divert to Magdalena de Kino Airport for an emergency landing when on final, the twin engine airplane went out of control and crashed, bursting into flames. Both occupants were killed, among them the American guitarist Norman Douglas Sholin aged 29.
Probable cause:
Engine fire in flight for unknown reasons.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-8-43F in Mexico City: 8 killed

Date & Time: Aug 1, 1980
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-8
Operator:
Registration:
OB-R-1143
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Lima - Mexico City
MSN:
45598
YOM:
1960
Location:
Mexico City
Federal District of Mexico City
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
On approach to Mexico City-Benito Juarez Airport, the crew was cleared to descend from 11,000 to 9,000 feet when the aircraft struck tree tops and crashed on the slope of Mt Lilio located about 24 km from the airport. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all eight occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, the mountain was shrouded by clouds. For unknown reasons, the crew was approaching the airport at a too low altitude.
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