On September 26, 1949, a Douglas DC-3 (registration XA-DUH) operated by Mexicana de Aviación was involved in an aviation accident near Mt Popocatépetl, Mexico during landing or approach. 24 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Terrain collision during descent due to failure to clear Mt Popocatépetl. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 7 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
Aircraft registered XA-DUH. Photo: NTSB / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
An aircraft struck the slope of Mount Popocatépetl while descending to Mexico City Airport, resulting in the deaths of all 24 people on board.
What happened
The incident occurred during the descent phase of a flight destined for Mexico City Airport. As the pilot initiated the approach, the aircraft collided with the slope of Mt Popocatépetl. The impact was catastrophic, leading to the loss of life for every individual on board. There were no survivors among the 24 occupants.
Findings
The primary factor in the accident was the terrain encounter during the descent. The aircraft failed to clear the mountainous obstacle before reaching the airport's approach path. No further details regarding mechanical failures or specific weather conditions are provided in the available source material.
Probable cause
Terrain collision during descent due to failure to clear Mt Popocatépetl
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