New York - Mexico City
Flight / Schedule
New York - Mexico City
Aircraft
Douglas DC-8Registration
XA-NUS
MSN
45633
Year of Manufacture
1962
Operator
Aeronaves de MexicoDate
December 24, 1966 at 04:30 AM
Type
CRASHFlight Type
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Flight Phase
Landing (descent or approach)
Crash Site
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Crash Location
Mexico City-Benito Juarez Federal District of Mexico City
Region
Central America • Mexico
Crash Cause
Human factor
Narrative Report
On December 24, 1966 at 04:30 AM, New York - Mexico City experienced a crash involving Douglas DC-8, operated by Aeronaves de Mexico, with the event recorded near Mexico City-Benito Juarez Federal District of Mexico City.
The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.
109 people were known to be on board, 0 fatalities were recorded, 109 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 0.0%.
Crew on board: 8, crew fatalities: 0, passengers on board: 101, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.
The listed crash cause is human factor. The approach to Mexico City-Benito Juárez Airport was completed by night. In poor visibility, the pilot-in-command failed to realize his altitude was too low and led the aircraft pass below the glide until it struck the ground. At impact, the undercarriage were torn off and the airplane broke in two before coming to rest in the Texcoco dry lake. All 109 occupants were rescued, 28 of them were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.
Aircraft reference details include registration XA-NUS, MSN 45633, year of manufacture 1962.
Fatalities
Total
0
Crew
0
Passengers
0
Other
0
Crash Summary
The approach to Mexico City-Benito Juárez Airport was completed by night. In poor visibility, the pilot-in-command failed to realize his altitude was too low and led the aircraft pass below the glide until it struck the ground. At impact, the undercarriage were torn off and the airplane broke in two before coming to rest in the Texcoco dry lake. All 109 occupants were rescued, 28 of them were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.
Cause: Human factor
Occupants & Outcome
Crew On Board
8
Passengers On Board
101
Estimated Survivors
109
Fatality Rate
0.0%
Known people on board: 109
Operational Details
Schedule / Flight
New York - Mexico City
Operator
Aeronaves de MexicoFlight Type
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Flight Phase
Landing (descent or approach)
Crash Site
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Region / Country
Central America • Mexico
Aircraft Details
Similar Plane Crashes
United States Army Air Service - USAAS
De Havilland DH.4
The pilot, sole on board, was performing a training flight at the border between US and Mexico. In flight, the engine failed and the pilot was forced to attempte an emergency landing near Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico. The pilot was uninjured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Mexicana de Aviación
Ford 4
Shortly after takeoff, while climbing to a height of 100 feet, one of the engine failed. The aircraft stalled and crashed, killing all five occupants, among them pilot Dennis W. Taylor.
Corporación Aeronautica de Transportes
Lockheed 5 Vega
En route from Matamoros to Mexico City and while overflying north of the State of Veracruz, the single engine aircraft hit the Cerro de Carbón located south of Papantla. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and all four occupants were killed. The aircraft was supposed to be registered XA-BHH but this registration was not taken up at the time of the accident.
Corporación Aeronautica de Transportes
Lockheed 5 Vega
Crashed in unknown circumstances near Monterrey and was destroyed by fire. Occupant fate unknown.
Government of the State of Yucatán
Sikorsky S-38
The seaplane named 'Mayab' crashed in unknown circumstances in Mérida, killing all five occupants.
Corporación Aeronautica de Transportes
Ryan B-1 Brougham
The crew was completing a local training flight at Torreón Airport when the accident occurred in unknown circumstances. The aircraft was destroyed and all three occupants were killed.
