What happened
On December 7, 2008, at approximately 1815 CST, a Learjet 23, registration XC-LGD, was on final approach to an unlit airport operating under day visual flight rules near Tlaxcala, Mexico. During the short final phase of the flight, the aircraft was observed descending at a high rate.
A witness reported losing visual contact with the aircraft. After approximately 40 seconds passed without the plane reappearing, the witness proceeded to the runway threshold. Other individuals at the airport boundary then indicated that the aircraft had crash-landed into a lake located to the north of the airport. The flight was in its terminating phase at the time of the accident. The crash resulted in 2 fatal injuries to the pilot and copilot.
The investigation
The aircraft was scheduled for recovery to a facility in Tlaxcala for further examination. A technical advisor from Bombardier-Learjet Inc. was appointed to assist the DGAC with the recovery efforts and the investigation process.