Mexican Government

Learjet 45

Following an uneventful flight from San Luis Potosí, the crew was cleared to the MATEO VOR and for an ILS/DME approach to runway 05R at Mexico-Benito Juarez Intl Airport, then was instructed by ATC to increase their speed to 220 knots. The Learjet was trailing a Boeing 767-300 (Mexicana Flight 1692 from Buenos Aires), which was instructed to decrease speed to 160 knots to maintain separation with a preceding Airbus A318. At 18:41 a further instruction was given to slow down to an indicated airspeed of 150 knots. At 18:42 the Boeing 767 crossed MATEO VOR at a ground speed of 224 knots. The Learjet was following at 8 nautical miles (NM) at a ground speed of 272 knots. At 18:44 the controller instructed Mexicana Flight 1692 to slow down to the minimum approach speed. At that time, the Learjet 45 was crossing the MATEO VOR with a ground speed of 262 knots, approximately 5.7 NM behind. The controller then instructed the Learjet crew to reduce their airspeed to 180 knots. This was acknowledged but it took 16 seconds for the crew to take action. Separation between the Boeing 767 and Learjet had decreased to 3.8 NM and the Learjet entered the wake turbulence of the 767. Control was lost and the aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent, crashing on the Monte Pelvoux and Ferrocarril de Cuernavaca Avenues. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 9 occupants were killed as well as 7 people on the ground. Some buildings were damaged, about 20 cars were destroyed and 40 people on the ground were injured, some seriously. Among the passengers were: Juan Camilo Mouriño Terrazo, Interior Minister, José Luis Santiago Vasconcelos, General Attorney, Miguel Monterrubio Cubas, Director for Social Communication.

Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain

Shortly after takeoff from Las Ánimas, while climbing, the twin engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances. Both passengers were injured and the pilot was killed. The aircraft was engaged in a flight on behalf of a livestock pest control program jointly organized by a US and Mexican commission.

Embraer EMB-110 Bandeirante

The twin engine airplane departed Tepic Airport on an ambulance flight to Guadalajara, carrying 10 patients, one nurse and two pilots on behalf of the Mexican Institute for Social Security (Instituto Mexicano de Seguridad Social). About three minutes after takeoff, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances on a hill located few km from the airport. All 13 occupants were killed.

Beechcraft 65 Queen Air

The twin engine aircraft christened 'El Caminero' departed Guadalajara Airport at 1028LT bound for Mexico City, carrying five passengers and two crew members on behalf of the Ministry of Public Works. While approaching the city of Tula, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances, killing all seven occupants, among them the politician Fernando Espinosa Gutiérrez, engineer.

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Shortly after takeoff from Mexico City-Benito Juarez Airport, the aircraft suffered an engine failure, stalled and crashed into the lake Texcoco. A crew member and three passengers were killed, among them the Mexican architect Carlos Lazo Barreiro. All 14 other occupants were injured. The flight was completed on behalf of the Ministry of Communications and Public Works (Secretaría de Comunicaciones y Obras Públicas - SCOP).