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Crash of a Douglas DC-4 near Mexico City
Date & Time:
Jun 25, 1946
Operator:
Registration:
XA-FOW
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Mexico City – Los Angeles
MSN:
10493
YOM:
1944
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
42
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Mexico City International Airport, the crew informed ATC that the aircraft caught fire and elected to return. The captain realized this was not possible and attempted an emergency landing in a field located few km from the airport. On touchdown, the aircraft slid for several yards and came to rest in flames. All 47 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Crash of a Douglas DC-2-243 in Mt Iztaccíhuatl: 16 killed
Date & Time:
Aug 11, 1945 at 1600 LT
Operator:
Registration:
XA-DOT
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Tapachula – Mexico City
MSN:
2075
YOM:
1939
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
13
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
16
Circumstances:
While flying over Puebla, the crew informed ATC of his position and confirmed his altitude at 15,000 feet. Few minutes later, while cruising in poor weather conditions, the twin engine aircraft hit the slope of Mt Iztaccíhuatl located east of the capital city. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and all 16 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
According to the Mexican Authorities, the aircraft was not flying on the assigned track at the time of the accident and the crew was unable to see the mountain due to the poor visibility caused by bad weather conditions.
Crash of a Douglas DC-3A-228 in Nuevo Laredo
Crash of a Ford 5 in San Martín
Date & Time:
Mar 5, 1940
Operator:
Registration:
XA-BCW
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Mexico City – Chetumal
MSN:
5-AT-045
YOM:
1929
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 Lockheed 10E Electra in Mexico City: 8 killed
Date & Time:
Dec 2, 1938 at 0755 LT
Operator:
Registration:
XA-BAU
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Mexico City – Mérida
MSN:
1041
YOM:
1937
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
Operator:
Registration:
XA-BAS
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Villahermosa – Veracruz – Mexico City
MSN:
1043
YOM:
1937
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 a Lockheed 10E Electra near Playa Vicente: 9 killed
Date & Time:
Jan 11, 1937 at 1030 LT
Operator:
Registration:
XA-BEO
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Mexico City – Minatitlán – Mérida
MSN:
1007
YOM:
1934
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
Operator:
Registration:
XA-BDH
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Villahermosa – Mexico City
MSN:
174
YOM:
1936
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.
Crash of a Lockheed 9 Orion on the Orizaba Peak: 1 killed
Date & Time:
Aug 3, 1936
Operator:
Registration:
XA-BAY
Survivors:
No
MSN:
169
YOM:
1936
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
While on a mail flight, the single engine aircraft impacted the slope of the Orizaba Peak located east of Ciudad Serdán. The pilot, Cpt Rivadeneyra Vásquez, was killed.
