What happened
On 31 October 1979, the aircraft N-903WA, a Boeing 727 (implied by engine count/configuration), departed Los Angeles International Airport for Mexico City. During the final approach to Mexico City International Airport, the flight crew was instructed by the tower that runway 2/3 Right was in use and was alerted that they were left of the established flight path. Despite being unable to see the approach lights due to weather, the crew continued the instrument approach.
The aircraft descended below required altitude minimums without initiating a missed approach or notifying the tower that the runway was not in sight. The plane touched down off-center on Runway 23 Left, which was closed for operations. As the crew attempted a go-around, the right landing gear struck a truck carrying 10 tonnes of earth parked on the runway shoulder. This collision caused massive structural damage, including the loss of the right landing gear, parts of the horizontal stabilizer, and sections of the wing flaps.
Following the initial impact, the aircraft remained airborne but suffered severe aerodynamic instability. The aircraft struck an excavator, scraped Taxiway A, and eventually collided with a PCV repair hangar. The sequence of events concluded when the aircraft struck a building, causing a massive impact that severed the tail fin, engine No. 2, and the left wing. The resulting wreckage and fire caused 73 fatalities (including 72 on board and one person in the building) and 16 injuries.
Findings
Investigations determined that the accident was driven by several critical errors:
- The crew failed to adhere to meteorological minima for the authorized approach procedure.
- There was a failure to follow standard operating procedures, specifically the requirement to call out altimeter readings during the final approach.
- The aircraft landed on a runway that was closed to all traffic.
- The crew descended below established decision minimums without reporting the runway in sight or executing a go-around.