On December 16, 1949, a Douglas DC-3 (registration XA-DUK) operated by Mexicana de Aviación was involved in an aviation accident near Orizaba, Mexico in flight. 17 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The crew failed to recognize the proximity of the mountain terrain while flying at an insufficient altitude during night operations. 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.
A twin-engine aircraft crashed into a mountainside near Cerro del Borrego during a night cruise, resulting in no survivors.
What happened
During a nighttime flight, a twin engine aircraft was operating in a cruising phase when it struck the terrain. The accident occurred at approximately 06:00 local time near the Cerro del Borrego area, situated close to Orizaba. The impact with the mountain slope resulted in the deaths of all 17 occupants on board.
Findings
Investigations into the crash indicate that the crew failed to maintain a safe altitude during the cruise portion of the flight. Due to the darkness, the flight crew did not identify the approaching mountain terrain, leading to a fatal collision with the slope.
Probable cause
The crew failed to recognize the proximity of the mountain terrain while flying at an insufficient altitude during night operations.
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