Cali - Cumuatillo

The crew attempted a night landing at Cumuatillo-Pajacuarán Airport that was not equipped with any facilities, tower or lighting systems. The aircraft approached in a wrong position relating to the runway direction and struck the ground near the runway threshold in a near perpendicular heading. It went out of control, crashed and came to rest near a road, broken in several pieces. Both pilots were killed. A load of cocaine was found among the debris.

Flight / Schedule

Cali - Cumuatillo

Aircraft

Learjet 35

Registration

PT-OEF

MSN

35-102

Year of Manufacture

1972

Date

May 2, 1992 at 12:00 AM

Type

CRASH

Flight Type

Illegal (smuggling)

Flight Phase

Landing (descent or approach)

Crash Site

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Crash Location

Cumuatillo-Pajacuarán Michoacán

Region

Central America • Mexico

Crash Cause

Human factor

Narrative Report

On May 2, 1992 at 12:00 AM, Cali - Cumuatillo experienced a crash involving Learjet 35, operated by Transamérica Táxi Aéreo, with the event recorded near Cumuatillo-Pajacuarán Michoacán.

The flight was categorized as illegal (smuggling) and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

2 people were known to be on board, 2 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 2, crew fatalities: 2, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. The crew attempted a night landing at Cumuatillo-Pajacuarán Airport that was not equipped with any facilities, tower or lighting systems. The aircraft approached in a wrong position relating to the runway direction and struck the ground near the runway threshold in a near perpendicular heading. It went out of control, crashed and came to rest near a road, broken in several pieces. Both pilots were killed. A load of cocaine was found among the debris.

Aircraft reference details include registration PT-OEF, MSN 35-102, year of manufacture 1972.

Fatalities

Total

2

Crew

2

Passengers

0

Other

0

Crash Summary

The crew attempted a night landing at Cumuatillo-Pajacuarán Airport that was not equipped with any facilities, tower or lighting systems. The aircraft approached in a wrong position relating to the runway direction and struck the ground near the runway threshold in a near perpendicular heading. It went out of control, crashed and came to rest near a road, broken in several pieces. Both pilots were killed. A load of cocaine was found among the debris.

Cause: Human factor

Occupants & Outcome

Crew On Board

2

Passengers On Board

0

Estimated Survivors

0

Fatality Rate

100.0%

Known people on board: 2

Operational Details

Schedule / Flight

Cali - Cumuatillo

Flight Type

Illegal (smuggling)

Flight Phase

Landing (descent or approach)

Crash Site

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Region / Country

Central America • Mexico

Aircraft Details

Aircraft

Learjet 35

Registration

PT-OEF

MSN

35-102

Year of Manufacture

1972

Similar Plane Crashes

August 20, 1919 at 12:00 AM

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.

April 9, 1929 at 12:00 AM5 Fatalities

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.

November 4, 1929 at 12:00 AM4 Fatalities

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.

May 27, 1930 at 12:00 AM

Corporación Aeronautica de Transportes

Lockheed 5 Vega

Crashed in unknown circumstances near Monterrey and was destroyed by fire. Occupant fate unknown.

September 9, 1930 at 12:00 AM5 Fatalities

Government of the State of Yucatán

Sikorsky S-38

The seaplane named 'Mayab' crashed in unknown circumstances in Mérida, killing all five occupants.

October 28, 1931 at 10:20 AM3 Fatalities

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.