Crash of a Ford 5 in San Martín

Date & Time: Mar 5, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Ford 5
Operator:
Registration:
XA-BCW
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Mexico City – Chetumal
MSN:
5-AT-045
YOM:
1929
Location:
San Martín
Veracruz
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route from Mexico to Chetumal, while flying over the State of Veracruz, pilots encountered very bad weather conditions with heavy rain falls. Due to poor visibility, the captain decided to reduce his altitude and attempted an emergency landing when the three engine aircraft crashed in a wooded area located near San Martín. While all 12 occupants were uninjured, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Bach 3-CTS Air Yacht near Durango: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 13, 1939 at 1015 LT
Type of aircraft:
Bach 3-CT Air Yacht
Operator:
Registration:
XB-AFH
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Torreón – Mazatlán
MSN:
8
YOM:
1929
Location:
Durango
Durango
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
En route from Torreón to Mazatlán, the pilot encountered poor visibility due to fog when the aircraft impacted the slope of a mountain located in the Sierra de Durango, in the region of Durango. All three occupants were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Pedro Arzac Faría.
Passengers:
Mr. & Mrs. William Stephen Grooch.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Lockheed 10E Electra in Mexico City: 8 killed

Date & Time: Dec 2, 1938 at 0755 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 10 Electra
Operator:
Registration:
XA-BAU
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Mexico City – Mérida
MSN:
1041
YOM:
1937
Location:
Mexico City-Benito Juarez
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:
The takeoff procedure was started in poor visibility due to foggy conditions. During the takeoff roll, the aircraft deviated from the runway centerline and immediately after rotation, followed a wrong heading. Shortly after takeoff, while climbing, the twin engine aircraft hit the hill of Peñon de los Baños located less than a km north of the airfield. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all eight occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was attributed to the foggy weather conditions in which it had occurred, in combination with human error. Specifically, the highly experienced pilot of XA-BAU had proceeded with the flight despite the fact that aircraft were not being authorized to take off due to the poor visibility. During the ground roll, the Electra had deviated to the left of the runway, and after becoming airborne assumed a heading that took it towards the rapidly rising terrain. There was no evidence of significant technical failure in the aircraft that could have factored in the crash.

Crash of a Lockheed 10E Electra in San Andrés Tuxtla: 11 killed

Date & Time: Aug 12, 1938 at 1230 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 10 Electra
Operator:
Registration:
XA-BAS
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Villahermosa – Veracruz – Mexico City
MSN:
1043
YOM:
1937
Location:
San Andrés Tuxtla
Veracruz
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
On the leg from Villahermosa to Veracruz, the crew informed ATC about his position. Shortly later, while cruising at an altitude of 11,000 feet in heavy rain falls, the twin engine aircraft impacted the slope of a mountain located near San Andrés Tuxtla. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and all 11 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was the consequence of a controlled flight into terrain due to adverse weather conditions that almost certainly caused or contributed to the crash related to a hurricane affecting the region.

Crash of an Emsco B.3 near Chetumal: 8 killed

Date & Time: Jul 11, 1938
Type of aircraft:
Emsco B.3
Operator:
Transportes Aéreos de Chiapas
Registration:
XA-BFX
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Mérida – Chetumal
Location:
Chetumal
Quintana Roo
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The aircraft was on its way from Mérida to Chetumal when it crashed in unknown circumstances somewhere in the State of Quintana Roo. As the airplane failed to arrive at destination, SAR operations were initiated but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the eight occupant was ever found.

Crash of a Lockheed 5C Vega in Mexico City: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 5, 1938 at 1130 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 5 Vega
Operator:
Registration:
XA-BFR
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Mexico City - Mexico City
MSN:
124
YOM:
1930
Location:
Mexico City
Federal District of Mexico City
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
For unknown reason, the pilot took off from a taxiway. Shortly after rotation, the single engine aircraft stalled and crashed. All five passengers, LAMSA employees, were injured while the pilot Miguel Angel Padilla was killed. It appears that the flight was not granted.

Crash of a Lockheed 10C Electra near Mexico City: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 9, 1938 at 1000 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 10 Electra
Operator:
Registration:
XA-BEQ
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Mexico City - Poza Rica
MSN:
1022
YOM:
1935
Location:
Mexico City
Federal District of Mexico City
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a test flight from Mexico City to Poza Rica. Few minutes after takeoff, while climbing, the airplane suffered an engine failure, stalled and crashed on a hilly terrain (Cerro El Penon ?). The aircraft was destroyed and all three occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Lockheed 10E Electra near Playa Vicente: 9 killed

Date & Time: Jan 11, 1937 at 1030 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 10 Electra
Operator:
Registration:
XA-BEO
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Mexico City – Minatitlán – Mérida
MSN:
1007
YOM:
1934
Location:
Playa Vicente
Veracruz
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
En route from Mexico City to Minatitlán, the crew encountered poor visibility due to marginal weather conditions. The airplane impacted the slope of a mountain located some 50 km from Playa Vicente. The wreckage was found four days later. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and all nine occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Lockheed Orion 9 in Francisco Rueda: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 6, 1936
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 9 Orion
Operator:
Registration:
XA-BDH
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Villahermosa – Mexico City
MSN:
174
YOM:
1936
Location:
Francisco Rueda
Tabasco
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Villahermosa on a mail flight to Mexico City, carrying one pilot and a load of 340 kg of mail and various goods. The accident occurred in unknown circumstances. The pilot was killed.
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