What happened
A twin-engine airplane was performing a special mission from Monterrey to Tijuana on behalf of the Mexican General Attorney's office when it crashed near the destination. While executing the final approach to Tijuana-General Abelardo L. Rodriguez Airport, the crew encountered adverse weather conditions characterized by fog and a low ceiling, which reduced visibility to only half a mile. During this phase of flight, the aircraft struck a 14-foot power pole approximately two miles before reaching the runway threshold. The impact caused the plane to crash and catch fire on United States soil. There were 10 fatalities in the accident, with no survivors.
Findings
Investigations into the crash identified several critical environmental and technical factors. At the time of the accident, the airport's Instrument Landing System (ILS) was not functioning, forcing the crew to rely on VOR/DME navigation. The investigation concluded that the primary cause was a controlled collision with the ground during the final approach. Contributing elements included the presence of fog and low cloud ceilings, which significantly hampered visibility, alongside the lack of operational localizer services at the airport.