Lázaro Cárdenas – Uruapan

On June 13, 1994 at 06:45 PM, Lázaro Cárdenas – Uruapan experienced a crash involving Swearingen SA226 Metro II, operated by Aero Cuahonte, with the event recorded near Uruapan-General Ignacio López Rayón Michoacán.

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.

9 people were known to be on board, 9 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: 7, passenger fatalities: 7, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. While descending to Uruapan-General Ignacio López Rayón Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and limited visibility due to the night and rain falls. ATC instructed the crew to carry out an instrument approach but the pilots insisted for a visual approach to runway 02. Because the crew was unable to establish a visual contact with the runway, he decided to initiate a go-around procedure, completed a right turn and attempted a second approach few minutes later that was also abandoned for the same reasons. This time, the captain initiated a turn to the left in an attempt to make a visual approach to runway 20, which was non compliant with the published procedures. Shortly later, while at an altitude of 1,200 metres, the twin engine aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located 5,9 km northwest of the airport. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and all nine occupants were killed.

Aircraft reference details include registration XA-SLU, MSN TC-401, year of manufacture 1981.