FlightFinder
Check my flight
167 fatalities

Midair Explosion and Crash of a Three-Engine Aircraft in Michoacán (XA-MEM)

Mt San Andrés, MexicoFlight

On March 31, 1986, a Boeing 727-200 (registration XA-MEM) operated by Mexicana de Aviación was involved in an aviation accident near Mt San Andrés, Mexico in flight. 167 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The left main gear brake was overheated during the takeoff run, allowing a tire to explode due to high temperature and pressure because it had been serviced with air rather than nitrogen. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 15 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Source recordUpdated 2026-09-03Data APIEditorial standards
Boeing 727-200
Photo: Pete Macklin / CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

A three-engine aircraft crashed in Michoacán after a tire burst in the left main gear wheel well caused an explosion, fire, and cabin decompression, killing all 167 occupants.

Flight Details and Accident Sequence The three-engine aircraft departed Mexico City-Benito Juárez Airport at 0840 local time on a scheduled service to Los Angeles, with intermediate stops at Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlán. The flight carried 159 passengers and eight crew members. While cruising at the assigned altitude of 31,000 feet, a tire burst in the left main gear wheel well triggered an explosion. The event ruptured fuel and hydraulic lines and severed electrical cables, leading to cabin decompression. The captain declared an emergency and reduced altitude, after which the aircraft caught fire when fuel ignited. The aircraft then entered an uncontrolled descent and struck the slope of Mt San Andrés, which is 3,569 meters high and located 18 kilometers southwest of Maravatio, in the State of Michoacán. The aircraft disintegrated on impact, and all 167 occupants were killed.

Probable cause

The left main gear brake was overheated during the takeoff run, allowing a tire to explode due to high temperature and pressure because it had been serviced with air rather than nitrogen.

Related events

Same aircraft family

Same operator

More Boeing 727 safety records →

All Boeing 727-200 accidents →

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 31 Mar 1986 Boeing 727-200 accident near Mt San Andrés, Mexico?

A three-engine aircraft crashed in Michoacán after a tire burst in the left main gear wheel well caused an explosion, fire, and cabin decompression, killing all 167 occupants.

Were there any fatalities in the 31 Mar 1986 Boeing 727-200 accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 167 fatalities.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 31 Mar 1986 involved a Boeing 727-200, registration XA-MEM, operated by Mexicana de Aviación, at Mt San Andrés, Mexico.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The left main gear brake was overheated during the takeoff run, allowing a tire to explode due to high temperature and pressure because it had been serviced with air rather than nitrogen.

More accident analyses