What happened
A cargo flight operating for DHL departed from Los Mochis Airport, bound for Toluca. During the descent phase of the flight, air traffic control notified the crew that fog had decreased visibility to approximately 1,600 metres.
While performing a night approach to Toluca-Adolfo López Mateos Airport, the crew descended beneath the Minimum Descent Altitude (MDA), likely in an attempt to regain visual contact with the terrain. During the short final stage of the approach, the aircraft struck a concrete wall measuring two metres in height. The impact occurred roughly 350 metres before the threshold of runway 15. The collision caused the aircraft to crash and subsequently burst into flames. There were four fatalities among the occupants of the aircraft.
Findings
The investigation indicates that the crew descended below the prescribed MDA during a period of reduced visibility caused by fog. This unauthorized descent below minimums led to the aircraft striking an obstacle short of the runway.