Country
Mexico
code

Yucatán

Crash of a Piper PA-46-310P Malibu in Chichén Itzá

Date & Time: Feb 15, 2017 at 2000 LT
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-46 (Malibu/Meridian/Mirage/Matrix/M-Class)
Operator:
Registration:
N116TH
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Monterrey – Cancún
MSN:
46-8608005
YOM:
1986
Location:
Chichén Itzá
Yucatán
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While overflying the Yucatán Province, en route from Monterrey to Cancún, the pilot informed ATC that he was low of fuel and requested the permission to divert to Chichén Itzá Airport for an emergency landing. While approaching the airfield by night, the single engine aircraft descended into trees and crashed few km from the airport. The airplane was destroyed and there was no fire. All five occupants were injured.

Crash of a Gulfstream GII in Tixkokob

Date & Time: Sep 24, 2007
Type of aircraft:
Gulfstream GII
Operator:
Donna Blue Aircraft
Registration:
N987SA
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Illegal (smuggling)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
172
YOM:
1975
Location:
Tixkokob
Yucatán
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was performing an illegal flight from Colombia to the United States via Cancún, Mexico. While cruising over Mexico, the crew was tracked by a Mexican Air Force's Embraer EMB-145. The crew attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft crashed in an open field located near Tixkokob. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and both pilot were arrested few minutes later. A total of 3.3 tons of cocaine was found on board the airplane, 132 bags of 25 kilos each.

Crash of a Casa 212 Aviocar 400 off Progreso

Date & Time: Nov 15, 2006
Type of aircraft:
Casa 212 Aviocar
Operator:
Registration:
AMP-114
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Cancún - Cancún
Location:
Progreso
Yucatán
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew departed Cancún Airport for a routine maritime patrol flight over the Gulf of Mexico. After 5 hours of flight, while returning to his base and approaching the coast, the crew informed ATC that an engine failed. Few seconds later, the second engine stopped as well. The crew reduced his altitude and ditched the aircraft 3,5 km off Progreso, some 40 km north of Mérida. All 7 occupants were rescued while the aircraft was lost.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure for unknown reasons. Fuel exhaustion suspected.

Crash of a Let L-410UVP-E in Chichén Itzá: 19 killed

Date & Time: Sep 12, 2001 at 1620 LT
Type of aircraft:
Let L-410
Operator:
Registration:
XA-ACM
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Chichén Itzá – Cozumel
MSN:
89 24 01
YOM:
1989
Location:
Chichén Itzá
Yucatán
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
19
Captain / Total flying hours:
7100
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1000
Aircraft flight hours:
1903
Aircraft flight cycles:
3654
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Chichén Itzá Airport runway 28, while climbing to a height of about 500 feet, the aircraft rolled to the right, stalled and crashed in a wooded area located about one km past the runway end, bursting into flames. The aircraft was totally destroyed by a post crash fire and all 19 occupants were killed, among them US and Canadian citizens and three Mexican, both pilots and a local tourist guide.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the aircraft rolled through 2,100 of the 2,800 metres of runway 28 and that the right engine failed while its propeller autofeathered. Investigations were unable to determine the exact cause of the right engine failure. Nevertheless, appropriate flight techniques were not applied by the crew.

Crash of a Convair CV-240 in Mérida: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 31, 1988
Type of aircraft:
Convair CV-240
Operator:
Registration:
XA-HUL
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
229
YOM:
1952
Location:
Mérida
Yucatán
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
17
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances while taking off from Mérida-Rejon Airport. A passenger was killed while all 19 other occupants were rescued.

Crash of a Douglas DC-6 in Mérida

Date & Time: Jan 30, 1967
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-6
Operator:
Registration:
XA-LAU
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Mexico City – Mérida
MSN:
43059/96
YOM:
1948
Location:
Mérida
Yucatán
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
26
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Mérida-Licenciado Manuel Crecencio Rejon Airport, the four engine aircraft stalled and crashed few dozen yards short of runway threshold. All 29 occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Due to poor crew coordination during the final approach, they failed to follow the approach checklist and one of the pilot inadvertently set up the reverse thrust system. Due to low speed, the airplane stalled and crashed. The distance between the aircraft and the ground was insufficient to expect recovery.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3-313A in Mérida

Date & Time: Aug 17, 1966 at 1710 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Lauderdale Leasing Company
Registration:
N28343
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
2267
YOM:
1940
Location:
Mérida
Yucatán
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
2012
Captain / Total hours on type:
164.00
Circumstances:
While on a corp/executive flight, the crew informed ATC about a double engine failure and was vectored to Mérida Airport. On approach, the airplane stalled, struck tree tops and crashed few km short of runway threshold. Both pilots were injured and the aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure for undetermined reason.
Final Report:

Crash of a Fairchild C-82A-FA Packet in Mérida: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 28, 1957
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild C-82 Packet
Operator:
Registration:
XA-LIW
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Mérida - Mérida
Location:
Mérida
Yucatán
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 involved in a local test flight when the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances shortly after takeoff from Mérida-Rejon Airport. The wreckage was found five km from the airfield and all three occupants were killed.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24J Liberator in Mérida: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 15, 1957 at 0753 LT
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
XA-KUN
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Mérida – Mexico City
Location:
Mérida
Yucatán
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
After takeoff from runway 10, while climbing to an altitude of 300 feet, the pilot made a turn to the left heading 65° then continued climbing for about 400 to 600 feet when control was lost. The airplane stalled and crashed in a huge explosion in the Calle 54 Sur Street, about two km north of the airport. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and all three occupants were killed, among them the Mexican Actor and Singer Pedro Infante who was acting pilot on this flight. A kid on the ground was also killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was due to a maneuvering error which consisted in making two turns onto the Mexico City heading without conforming the distance and procedure specifications and below the prescribed altitudes and speeds. This error was aggravated by a probable shifting of the load due to improper securing.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-20-DK in Mérida: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 14, 1953
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
XA-GIO
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Campeche – Mérida
MSN:
13113
YOM:
1944
Location:
Mérida
Yucatán
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
On approach to Mérida-Rejon Airport, the crew encountered foggy conditions. While flying too low, the airplane hit a steel tower, lost a wing and crashed in a wooded area. A pilot was killed while the second one was injured. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Too low approach in foggy conditions.
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