Crash of a Piper PA-31-425 Pressurized Navajo in Conrado Castillo: 6 killed

Date & Time: Nov 14, 2014 at 1730 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
XB-ZAX
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
San Luis Potosí – Ciudad Victoria – Torreón
MSN:
31-46
YOM:
1967
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed San Luis Potosí on a flight to Torreón with an intermediate stop in Ciudad Victoria, carrying five passengers and one pilot. At the end of the afternoon, while descending to Ciudad Victoria Airport, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions. Too low, the aircraft impacted trees and crashed in a hilly terrain located near Conrado Castillo. The wreckage was found the following morning about 60 km northwest of Ciudad Victoria Airport. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all six occupants were killed.
Pilot:
Juan José Castro Maldonado
Passengers:
Maribel Lumbreras,
Paulina García Lumbreras,
Lucero Salazar Méndez,
Juana Lumbreras Ruiz,
Guadalupe Lumbreras Ruiz.

Crash of a Cessna 208 Caravan I in the Laguna de Tres Palos

Date & Time: Oct 24, 2014 at 1600 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
XA-WET
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Laguna de Tres Palos - Acapulco
MSN:
208-0294
YOM:
1998
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
5240
Captain / Total hours on type:
201.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
23837
Aircraft flight hours:
1760
Aircraft flight cycles:
1105
Circumstances:
The crew departed Laguna de Tres Palos on a positioning flight to the Acapulco-General Juan N. Álvarez International Airport. During the takeoff procedure, the seaplane started to oscillate from left to right. At a speed of about 45 knots, the crew abandoned the takeoff procedure when the aircraft nosed down, plunged into water and came to rest, inverted and submerged. Both pilots evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Loss of control of the aircraft during a takeoff run from a watery surface due to cross winds.
Final Report:

Crash of a BAe 125-700A in Saltillo: 8 killed

Date & Time: Apr 19, 2014 at 1946 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
XA-UKR
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Cozumel - Saltillo
MSN:
257191
YOM:
1982
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Captain / Total flying hours:
12984
Captain / Total hours on type:
4470.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
620
Copilot / Total hours on type:
67
Aircraft flight hours:
6166
Aircraft flight cycles:
4699
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Cozumel, the crew initiated an ILS/DME2 approach to Saltillo-Plan de Guadalupe Airport Runway 17. On final, the crew encountered poor visibility due to foggy conditions. Despite he was unable to establish a visual contact with the runway, the crew continued the approach and descended below the MDA when the aircraft collided with power cables and crashed on a building located in an industrial park, 1,448 metres short of runway. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all eight occupants were killed. The building was also destroyed by fire. At the time of the accident, the horizontal visibility was estimated to be 800 metres with a vertical visibility of 200 feet.
Probable cause:
The accident was the consequence of the decision of the crew to continue the approach below MDA in IMC conditions until the aircraft collided with power cables and impacted ground. The following contributing factors were identified:
- The approach was unstable,
- The decision of the crew to continue the approach below MDA without visual contact with the runway,
- Poor safety culture by the operator,
- The crew failed to comply with procedures related to an ILS/DME2 approach to runway 17,
- Lack of crew resources management,
- The crew failed to respond to the GPWS alarm,
- The crew did not monitor the altitude during the final approach,
- Poor weather conditions with a visibility below minimums,
- Inadequate maintenance controls,
- The crew failed to follow the SOP's.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-9-33CF in Saltillo

Date & Time: Jan 18, 2014 at 0423 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
XA-UQM
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Managua – Tapachula – Saltillo
MSN:
47191/280
YOM:
1968
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
13447
Captain / Total hours on type:
9235.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
10736
Copilot / Total hours on type:
525
Aircraft flight hours:
57319
Aircraft flight cycles:
53457
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Managua on a cargo flight to Saltillo with an intermediate stop in Tapachula, carrying two passengers and two pilots on behalf of DHL. During a night approach to Saltillo Airport, the crew was cleared to land on runway 17. One minute later, he initiated a go-around and decided to divert to Monterrey Airport which was the alternate. Due to a poor flight preparation, the crew was unaware that Monterrey Airport was closed to traffic that night. So few minutes later, the crew returned to Saltillo and was again cleared to land on runway 17. At that time, weather conditions were marginal with a limited visibility due to fog. Following an ILS CAT I approach, the pilot-in-command descended below the MDA and continued the approach despite he did not establish any visual contact with the runway and its equipment. The aircraft landed hard to the right of the runway and on the last third of the runway. After landing, the aircraft rolled for few dozen metres, lost its nose gear and came to rest against an embankment. All four occupants were injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Continuing the precision approach (ILS CAT 1) in conditions of reduced visibility by fog (no visual contact with the runway at an airport below minimums), which resulted in an abrupt landing and misaligned to the right on the last third of the runway, during a second landing attempt. The continuation of the landing was the lack of fuel to fly to a second alternate airport not contemplated in the operation.
Contributing factors:
1. Lack of analysis of pre-flight operational information (current NOTAMs, METAR, forecasts, fuel to second alternate airport and flight tracking).
2. Unstabilized approach.
3. Lack of application of CRM concepts.
4. Lack of adherence to procedure - operations, of providing METAR and NOTAM to the crew for the dispatch of the aircraft.
5. Lack of adherence to the procedure for flight control and tracking.
6. Lack of procedures to establish two alternate airports when the destination airport is below minimums.
7. Lack of Company supervision, operation and maintenance surveillance of aircraft flight recorders.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 414 near Xalapa: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 18, 2013 at 1120 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
XB-NPH
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Monterrey - Xalapa
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Monterrey-Del Norte Airport at 0820LT on a flight to Xalapa-El Lencero Airport, Veracruz. While cruising in marginal weather conditions, the airplane crashed in the Sierra Madre Oriental, near the summit of Mirador. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire and both occupants were killed.

Crash of a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan near Loreto: 14 killed

Date & Time: Oct 14, 2013 at 0907 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
XA-TXM
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Los Mochis – Loreto – Ciudad Constitución
MSN:
208B-0947
YOM:
2002
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
13
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
14
Captain / Total flying hours:
2308
Aircraft flight hours:
11840
Aircraft flight cycles:
12184
Circumstances:
The single engine aircraft departed Loreto Airport at 0901LT on a flight to Ciudad Constitución, carrying 13 passengers and one pilot. Weather conditions were poor with limited visibility and heavy rain falls due to the presence of the tropical storm 'Octave'. Six minutes after takeoff, while cruising at an altitude of 3,900 feet, the airplane impacted the slope of a rocky mountain located in the Sierra de La Giganta. The wreckage was found two days later some 26 km west of Loreto. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 14 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain after the pilot suffered a spatial disorientation while cruising in unfavorable weather conditions due to the presence of the tropical storm 'Octave'.
Final Report:

Crash of a Britten Norman BN-2B-27 Islander in Purisima del Maguey

Date & Time: Aug 22, 2013 at 1530 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
XC-FEE
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Chihuahua – Zacatecas
MSN:
2022
YOM:
1980
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
4000
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Chihuahua-General Fierro Villalobos Airport at 1352LT on a flight to Zacatecas, carrying four passengers and one pilot. It continued to the south at an altitude of 11,500 feet and a speed of 120 knots. The flight was uneventful until the pilot started the descent to Zacatecas-General Leobardo C. Ruiz. when the left engine lost power then failed shortly later. The pilot reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft crash landed in an open field located near Purisima del Maguey, some 25 km northwest of Zacatecas Airport. All five occupants evacuated safely and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left engine due to fuel exhaustion.
The following contributing factors were identified:
- Failure to apply the standard procedures relating to the quantity of fuel required as set out in the applicable regulations which were not provided to the crew by the operator.
- Poor flight preparation.
- Non-adherence to VFR rules.
- Lack of familiarity in the equipment on the part of the pilot when not receiving adequate training from the operator.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft 300 Super King Air in Zacatecas: 6 killed

Date & Time: Apr 30, 2013 at 1221 LT
Operator:
Registration:
XC-LMV
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Zacatecas - Mexico City
MSN:
FA-83
YOM:
1986
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Captain / Total flying hours:
8400
Aircraft flight hours:
7146
Aircraft flight cycles:
5756
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Zacatecas Airport Runway 20, while in initial climb, the crew informed ATC about technical problems with the left engine and attempted to return to land on runway 02. Eventually, the crew attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft crashed in a soft and dry terrain located southeast of the airport, bursting into flames, about one minute after takeoff. The aircraft was totally destroyed by a post crash fire and all six occupants were killed, among them two agents of the Federal Police and one employee of the Public Minister.
Probable cause:
Precautionary landing due to probable loss of left engine power, in soft and dry terrain, bogging down the legs of the main landing gear resulting in destruction of the aircraft. The following contributing factors were identified:
- Lack of application of CRM concepts,
- Lack of adherence to standard operating procedures.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 421B Golden Eagle II in Morelia

Date & Time: Apr 6, 2013 at 1200 LT
Operator:
Registration:
XB-LBY
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Cuernavaca - Guadalajara
MSN:
421B-0336
YOM:
1973
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route from Cuernavaca to Guadalajara, while in cruising altitude, the pilot informed ATC about technical problems with the right engine. He was cleared to divert to Morelia Airport for an emergency landing. On final approach to runway 05, the twin engine aircraft crashed in an open field located about 2 km short of runway. All six occupants evacuated with minor injuries and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Pilatus PC-6/B2-H4 Turbo Porter at Santa Lucía AFB: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 21, 2013 at 1340 LT
Operator:
Registration:
3303
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Santa Lucía AFB - Santa Lucía AFB
MSN:
883
YOM:
1992
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training flight at Santa Lucía AFB when the single engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances in an open field near the airfield. The aircraft was destroyed and both occupants were killed.