Flight Details
The aircraft, a twin-engine type, departed Chihuahua-General Fierro Villalobos Airport at 1352 local time on a flight to Zacatecas. It carried four passengers and one pilot. The flight proceeded south at an altitude of 11,500 feet and a speed of 120 knots. The initial phase of the flight was uneventful.
Engine Failure
As the pilot began the descent to Zacatecas-General Leobardo C. Ruiz Airport, the left engine lost power and subsequently failed shortly thereafter. The pilot reduced altitude and initiated an emergency landing procedure.
Crash Landing
The aircraft crash landed in an open field near Purisima del Maguey, approximately 25 km northwest of Zacatecas Airport. All five occupants evacuated the aircraft safely. The aircraft sustained damage beyond repair.
Probable Cause
The official investigation determined the probable cause to be failure of the left engine due to fuel exhaustion. Contributing factors included failure to apply standard fuel quantity procedures, poor flight preparation, non-adherence to VFR rules, and lack of pilot familiarity with equipment due to inadequate training by the operator.