What happened
During the final approach to runway 23L at Mexico City-Benito Juárez Airport, a three-engine airplane experienced a loss of altitude. The aircraft impacted the ground approximately 1.5 km before reaching the runway threshold. Following this initial impact, the plane bounced and briefly regained flight before the nose gear and forward section of the fuselage collided with a railway embankment.
Following the collision with the embankment, the aircraft lost control and crashed near the runway threshold, where it broke into multiple fragments. The accident resulted in 27 fatalities, including five crew members and 22 passengers. Additionally, 80 people were injured during the event, while 15 others remained unharmed. The aircraft was completely destroyed.
Findings
Investigations into the crash highlighted significant maintenance failures that rendered the aircraft unairworthy. It was determined that technicians responsible for the aircraft's upkeep failed to adhere to established procedures. Specifically, the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) was not correctly installed and was in an unserviceable state at the time of the accident. Furthermore, the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) was missing from the aircraft because maintenance personnel had neglected to reinstall it prior to the flight.