On November 11, 1968, a Beechcraft D18 (registration XA-POJ) operated by Compañía Tabasqueña de Aviación was involved in an aviation accident near Tapijulapa, Mexico in flight. 6 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The aircraft struck mountainous terrain while flying through heavy cloud cover during a diversion attempt. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A).
An aircraft crashed into a mountainside near Tapijulapa while the crew was attempting to divert due to worsening weather conditions.
What happened
During a flight traveling from Tuxtla Gutiérrez toward Villahermosa, the flight crew encountered increasingly poor meteorological conditions. In an effort to ensure a safe arrival, the decision was made to redirect the aircraft to an alternate landing site.
While navigating through heavy cloud cover, the aircraft collided with the slope of a mountain situated in the vicinity of Tapijulapa. The impact occurred while the plane was operating in obscured visibility near the terrain. There were six fatalities resulting from the accident, involving all persons on board.
Findings
The flight crew attempted to divert to an alternate location due to deteriorating weather.
The aircraft struck a mountain slope that was obscured by clouds.
Probable cause
The aircraft struck mountainous terrain while flying through heavy cloud cover during a diversion attempt.