Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter near Mexico City: 19 killed

Date & Time: Sep 9, 1978
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter
Operator:
Lineas Aéreas del Centro
Registration:
XA-BOP
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Mexico City - Morelia
MSN:
18
YOM:
1966
Location:
Mexico City
Federal District of Mexico City
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
19
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
19
Circumstances:
While cruising in marginal weather conditions, the twin engine airplane struck the slope of a mountain shrouded by clouds and located about 65 km west of Mexico City. A pilot and a passenger survived while 19 other occupants were killed.

Crash of a Beechcraft 65-A80 Queen Air in Mexico City: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jun 16, 1978 at 1630 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft 80 Queen Air
Operator:
Registration:
XB-ABG
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
City
Schedule:
Tampico – Mexico City – Martinez de la Torre
Location:
Mexico City-Benito Juarez
Federal District of Mexico City
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane was performing an executive flight from Tampico to Martinez de la Torre, Veracruz, with an intermediate stop in Mexico City. On final approach, one of the engine apparently failed. The airplane lost height, struck antennas and the roofs of several houses before crashing in flames in the district of Jardín Balbuena, about 3 km short of runway 05. One of the occupant survived while five others were killed.
Crew:
Jorge Azcárraga, pilot,
Mario Vértiz, copilot.
Passengers:
Mario Bairón,
J. Haele,
Enrique Silva,
Javier Ortiz.
Probable cause:
Engine failure for undetermined reasons.

Crash of a Beechcraft 65 Queen Air near Zamora

Date & Time: Apr 24, 1978 at 0930 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft 65 Queen Air
Operator:
Larry Johnson Air Services
Registration:
N640PH
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
LC-58
YOM:
1961
Location:
Zamora
Michoacán
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane suffered an in-flight fire for unknown reasons. The pilot attempted an emergency landing near Zamora. The aircraft crash landed and struck a fence. All three occupants were injured, both passengers seriously.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft 65-A90 King in Santa María Amajac: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 15, 1978 at 1300 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft 90 King Air
Operator:
Registration:
XA-FOT
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
LJ-168
YOM:
1966
Location:
Santa María Amajac
Hidalgo
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances, killing all four occupants.

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A-8 Islander in San Cristóbal de Las Casas: 13 killed

Date & Time: Nov 3, 1977
Type of aircraft:
Britten-Norman Islander
Operator:
Servicios Aéreos Martinez Leon
Registration:
XA-FUA
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Palenque - San Cristóbal de Las Casas
MSN:
388
YOM:
1974
Location:
San Cristóbal de Las Casas
Chiapas
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Circumstances:
On final approach to San Cristóbal de Las Casas Airport, the twin engine airplane suffered an in-flight explosion and crashed in flames few dozen meters short of runway threshold. The aircraft was destroyed and all 13 occupants were killed, among them members of the National Indian Institute.
Probable cause:
The cause of the in-flight explosion remains unknown.

Crash of a Cessna 207 Skywagon in San Luis de Lozada: 5 killed

Date & Time: Sep 5, 1977 at 0800 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 207 Skywagon/Stationair
Operator:
Transportes Aéreos de Nayarit (TANSA)
Registration:
XA-COB
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
San Luis de Lozada
Nayarit
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from Tepic Airport, while climbing, the single engine airplane went out of control and crashed under unknown circumstances in San Luis de Lozada, about 16 km northeast of Tepic Airport. The aircraft was destroyed and all five occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-75-DL in Amatlán de Jora: 5 killed

Date & Time: Mar 2, 1977
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Transportes Aéreos de Nayarit (TANSA)
Registration:
XA-COM
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
19409
YOM:
1944
Location:
Amatlán de Jora
Nayarit
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances while on approach to Amatlán de Jora Airstrip. Both pilots and three loaders were killed. The airplane was carrying a load of cereals.

Crash of a Grumman HU-16A Albatross off Puerto Cortés NAS: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 10, 1977 at 2245 LT
Type of aircraft:
Grumman HU-16 (SA-16) Albatross
Operator:
Registration:
MP-301
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Location:
Puerto Cortés NAS
Baja California Sur
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Shortly after a night takeoff from Puerto Cortés NAS, while climbing, the seaplane aircraft lost height and crashed into the sea. Five crew members were rescued while three others were killed.

Crash of a Beechcraft D18S in Huaynamota: 8 killed

Date & Time: Nov 19, 1976 at 1730 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft D18
Operator:
Servicios Aéreos Cora
Registration:
XA-POP
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Huaynamota – Tepic
MSN:
A-28
YOM:
1945
Location:
Huaynamota
Nayarit
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Huaynamota, an engine failed. The pilot elected to return when control was lost. The aircraft crashed and was destroyed and all eight occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure for undetermined reasons.

Crash of a Lockheed 18 LodeStar in Villa de Casas: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 18, 1976
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 18 LodeStar
Operator:
Depositor Canales
Registration:
N519DW
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
2547
YOM:
1943
Location:
Villa de Casas
Tamaulipas
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances, killing both occupants.
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