Carga del Caribe

Douglas DC-6

The four engine aircraft departed Cancún Airport at 0922LT on a post maintenance check flight. The crew consisting of three engineers and two pilots was supposed to make several engine tests and verification in flight. The aircraft departed Cancún and continued to the south to Cozumel where it was supposed to make an approach (no landing planned) before returning to Cancún. While approaching Cozumel Island, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with low clouds and rain falls. In limited visibility, the aircraft descended below the prescribed altitude of 2,000 feet until it crashed in the sea some 22 km north of Cozumel Airport. The copilot and a passenger were seriously injured while the captain was killed. Two other passengers were not recovered.