Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-45-CU Commando in Zacatecas

Date & Time: Jan 5, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
30247
YOM:
1944
Location:
Zacatecas
Zacatecas
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
At liftoff, while in initial climb, the aircraft stalled and crashed. Both occupants were injured and the aircraft (private and not registered) was written off.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46 Commando off Cozumel: 8 killed

Date & Time: Oct 24, 1948
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Transandina Ecuador
Registration:
HC-SIA
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
New Orleans – Belize City – Quito
Location:
Cozumel
Quintana Roo
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The aircraft was performing a cargo flight from New Orleans to Quito with a load of cattle on board. En route, the crew encountered technical problems and decided to divert to Cozumel for an emergency landing. Unfortunately, the crew did not make it and the aircraft crashed into a lagoon, killing all eight occupants. The registration is unconfirmed.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3 in the Orizaba Peak: 14 killed

Date & Time: Jul 1, 1948 at 1500 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Minatitlán – Mexico City
Location:
Ciudad Serdán
Puebla
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
14
Circumstances:
En route, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with heavy rain falls and thunderstorm activity. The airplane hit the slope of Orizaba Peak located northeast of Ciudad Serdán. The wreckage was found three days later and all 14 occupants were killed. The aircraft was performing a special flight for the US-Mexico Foot and Mouth Disease Commission.

Crash of a Avro 652 Anson near Pichucalco: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jun 8, 1948
Type of aircraft:
Avro 652 Anson
Operator:
Servicios Aéreos de Chiapas
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Villahermosa – Tuxtla Gutierrez
Location:
Pichucalco
Chiapas
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Enroute, the pilot encountered an unexpected situation and was forced to attempt an emergency landing in Pichucalco when he lost control of the aircraft that crashed in flames in La Perla. All five occupants were killed.
Crew:
Enrique Cano, pilot.
Passengers:
Vicente Manzano, Police Inspector,
Jesús Vidal,
Alejandro Córdova,
F. Vicario.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A Commando in Mexico City: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 23, 1948
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
RX-138
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Delivery
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Burbank – Mexico City – Panama City
Location:
Mexico City
Federal District of Mexico City
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Shortly after lift off, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in flames. The copilot was killed while the captain was seriously injured. He died from his injuries few hours later. The crew was on its way from Burbank to Israel to deliver the aircraft to the Israel Air Force. Four other similar aircraft were performing the same trip at the same time. At the time of the accident, the aircraft was still under the Panamanian register by LAPSA - Lineas Aéreas de Panama.
Crew:
William Guy Gerson, pilot,
Ernest Glen King, copilot.
Probable cause:
Failure of one engine just after rotation.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3 off Ciudad del Carmen: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 10, 1948
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Gulf Transportation Company
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Brownsville – Ciudad del Carmen
Location:
Ciudad del Carmen
Campeche
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew was on his way from Brownsville to Ciudad del Carmen to pick up a load of seafood for the US market. While cruising vertical to the Gulf of Mexico, the right engine failed, forcing the crew to ditch the aircraft 24 km off Ciudad del Carmen. While preparing a life raft, the American pilot Neil Womack fell into the water and was drowned. The Mexican copilot Esteban de León was rescued by the crew of a ship christened 'Roatán' nine days later.
Probable cause:
Failure of the right engine.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3 in Leon: 8 killed

Date & Time: Dec 28, 1947 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
XA-GEE
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Durango – Léon – Mexico City
Location:
León
Guanajuato
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from León-Guanajuato-Del Bajio Airport, the crew informed ground that an engine failed and received the authorization to return for an emergency landing. While completing a last turn, the pilot lost control of the aircraft that stalled and crashed in a residential area located near the airport. Both pilots, three passengers and three people on the ground were killed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Ford 4 in Ometepec

Date & Time: May 12, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Ford 4
Operator:
Negociación Aérea Mexicana (NAMSA)
Registration:
XA-DOL
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
4-AT-005
YOM:
28
Location:
Ometepec
Guerrero
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll, the three engine aircraft was caught by strong crosswinds, went out of control and veered off runway before coming to rest, broken in two. Both pilots were injured and the aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
Caught by strong crosswinds on takeoff.
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