On September 9, 1978, a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter (registration XA-BOP) operated by Lineas Aéreas del Centro was involved in an aviation accident near Mexico City, Mexico in flight. 19 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The aircraft struck a mountainside that was hidden by clouds during flight in poor weather conditions. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A).
A twin-engine airplane crashed into a mountain slope approximately 65 km west of Mexico City, resulting in 19 fatalities.
What happened
During a flight through challenging weather conditions, a twin engine airplane collided with the side of a mountain. The impact occurred on a slope that was obscured by heavy cloud cover. The accident took place at a location situated roughly 65 km to the west of Mexico City.
Of the individuals on board the aircraft, there were 19 fatalities and two survivors, consisting of the pilot and one passenger.
Findings
The aircraft was operating in marginal meteorological conditions at the time of the accident.
Cloud cover obscured the terrain, preventing the crew from seeing the mountain slope during the cruise phase of flight.
Probable cause
The aircraft struck a mountainside that was hidden by clouds during flight in poor weather conditions.
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