Crash of a Lockheed 18-56-23 LodeStar in Veracruz: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 31, 1975 at 1800 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 18 LodeStar
Operator:
Hartzog Aviation
Registration:
N35L
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Illegal (smuggling)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
2434
YOM:
1943
Location:
Veracruz-General Heriberto Jara Corona
Veracruz
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
7000
Circumstances:
Just after takeoff from Veracruz-General Heriberto Jara Airport, the twin engine airplane struck trees and crashed in flames. Both occupants were killed.

Crash of a Cessna 401 in Los Mochis: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 7, 1974 at 1345 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 401
Operator:
Earl Hightower
Registration:
N401EH
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Guaymas - Los Mochis - Culiacan
MSN:
401-0102
YOM:
1968
Location:
Los Mochis
Sinaloa
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
1039
Captain / Total hours on type:
125.00
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances while approaching Los Mochis Airport. The pilot and two passengers were killed while two other passengers were injured.
Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo in Mexico

Date & Time: Dec 15, 1973
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-310 Navajo
Operator:
UC Leasing Company
Registration:
N582DC
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
MSN:
31-20
YOM:
1967
Location:
Mexico
All Mexico
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 somewhere in Mexico in December 1973 (exact date unknown). The occupant's fate remains uncertain.

Crash of a Cessna 402A in San Vicente

Date & Time: Nov 29, 1973 at 1455 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 402
Operator:
Opa Locka Flight Service
Registration:
N111RN
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Acapulco - Cozumel
MSN:
402A-0131
YOM:
1969
Location:
San Vicente
Chiapas
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
2518
Captain / Total hours on type:
40.00
Circumstances:
En route from Acapulco to Cozumel, the pilot informed ATC about the malfunction of both engines and was cleared to divert to San Vicente Airfield, Chiapas. On approach, the twin engine airplane went out of control and crashed in flames. Both occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
Partial loss of power on both engines for undetermined reason.
Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing 727-14 in Mazatlán

Date & Time: Oct 20, 1973
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 727-100
Operator:
Registration:
XA-SEN
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Denver - Mazatlán
MSN:
19398/345
YOM:
1966
Location:
Mazatlán
Sinaloa
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
117
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Denver-Stapleton Airport, the crew started the descent to Mazatlán-General Rafael Buelna Airport. On short final, the airplane struck the ground, lost its undercarriage and came to rest about 1,500 meters short of runway threshold. All 123 occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a BAe 125-1A in Acapulco: 8 killed

Date & Time: Oct 12, 1973
Type of aircraft:
BAe 125
Operator:
Avionas Banamex
Registration:
XA-COL
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Houston - Acapulco
MSN:
25086
YOM:
1966
Location:
Acapulco-General Juan N. Álvarez
Guerrero
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
While approaching Acapulco-General Juan N. Álvarez Airport in marginal weather conditions, the crew failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the airplane struck the ground and crashed few km from the runway threshold. The aircraft was destroyed and all eight occupants were killed.

Crash of a Lockheed 18 LodeStar at Santa Lucia AFB

Date & Time: Sep 14, 1973 at 0400 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 18 LodeStar
Operator:
Media Aviation
Registration:
N211W
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
2311
YOM:
1942
Location:
Santa Lucía AFB
México
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
3700
Captain / Total hours on type:
300.00
Circumstances:
The airplane was probably involved in a drug smuggling flight. For unknown reasons, the pilot was forced to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed 3 km from Santa Lucia AFB, north of Mexico City. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire and all three occupants were not found.
Probable cause:
Due to lack of evidences, the exact cause of the accident could not be determined.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft AT-11 Kansan near Villa Milpa Alta: 4 killed

Date & Time: Aug 20, 1973
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft AT-11 Kansan
Operator:
Registration:
BHB-1532
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Mexico City - Acapulco
MSN:
4944
YOM:
1943
Location:
Villa Milpa Alta
Federal District of Mexico City
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from Mexico City-Benito Juarez Airport, while climbing, the twin engine airplane struck the slope of a mountain located near Villa Milpa Alta, about 30 km south of the airport. The aircraft was destroyed and all four occupants were killed.

Crash of an Avro 748-2A-259 in Acapulco

Date & Time: Jul 28, 1973 at 0204 LT
Type of aircraft:
Avro 748
Operator:
Registration:
XA-SAB
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Acapulco - Acapulco
MSN:
1673
YOM:
1970
Location:
Acapulco-General Juan N. Álvarez
Guerrero
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training at Acapulco-General Juan N. Álvarez Airport. While approaching by night, the crew failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the airplane struck the ground and crashed few hundred meters short of runway threshold. All three crew members were injured and the aircraft was destroyed. It is believed that the accident was the consequence of a wrong approach configuration on part of the pilot-in-command.

Crash of a Douglas DC-9-15 near Puerto Vallarta: 27 killed

Date & Time: Jun 20, 1973 at 2247 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-9
Operator:
Registration:
XA-SOC
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Houston - Monterrey - Puerto Vallarta - Mexico City
MSN:
47100/153
YOM:
1967
Flight number:
AM229
Location:
Puerto Vallarta
Jalisco
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
22
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
27
Circumstances:
The crew started the descent to Puerto Vallarta-Gustavo Diaz Ordaz Airport in limited visibility due to the night. Too low, the airplane struck the slope of Mt Las Minas located 32 km short of runway 04. The aircraft was destroyed and all 27 occupants were killed.
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