Incident Overview
An aircraft departed Mexicali Airport with one pilot on board for a test experiment. The flight was conducted on behalf of the Mexican Civil Aviation Authority and various agencies, with the goal of deliberately crashing the aircraft in the Laguna Salada for a television program organized by British, German, Mexican, and American producers.
Sequence of Events
While approaching the desert along the Mexican 5 Highway, approximately 30 km southwest of Mexicali, the pilot bailed out of the aircraft. After the pilot exited, the aircraft continued for a few seconds in a slightly flat attitude.
Impact and Damage
The aircraft, configured with flaps down and gear down, touched down hard in a sandy area. Upon impact, it lost its undercarriage, crashed, and came to rest broken in two.