On July 28, 1973, an Avro 748 (registration XA-SAB) operated by SAESA - Servicios Aéreos Especiales was involved in an aviation accident near Acapulco-General Juan N. Álvarez, Mexico during landing or approach. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot-in-command utilized an improper approach configuration, leading to insufficient altitude during the night descent. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 2 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A training flight ended in a ground impact during a night approach at Acapulco, resulting in injuries to the crew and the destruction of the aircraft.
What happened
During a local training session conducted at night, an aircraft was performing maneuvers near the Acapulco-General Juan N. Álvarez Airport. As the flight was in its approach phase, the aircraft impacted the terrain several hundred meters before reaching the runway threshold.
The impact resulted in the total destruction of the plane. While there were no fatalities, the three crew members sustained various injuries during the crash.
Findings
Investigations into the event suggest that the pilot failed to maintain a sufficient altitude during the descent. The primary factor contributing to the accident was an incorrect approach configuration maintained by the pilot-in-command during the final stages of the flight.
Probable cause
The pilot-in-command utilized an improper approach configuration, leading to insufficient altitude during the night descent.