On May 18, 1979, a Douglas DC-4 operated by Bush Aviation was involved in an aviation accident near San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Mexico in flight. 10 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: An in-flight cabin fire led to a loss of control during an attempted emergency landing. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 3 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A plane carrying ten people crashed in a remote area of Chiapas, resulting in no survivors.
What happened
An aviation accident occurred in an uninhabited region near San Cristóbal de Las Casas, within the state of Chiapas. During the flight, the crew encountered a critical situation involving a fire inside the cabin. This emergency forced the pilot to reduce altitude in an attempt to perform an emergency landing.
As the aircraft descended, the crew lost control of the plane. The aircraft subsequently crashed into the ground while on fire. The impact and subsequent blaze resulted in 10 fatalities, with no individuals surviving the event. Among the deceased were two Swiss nationals.
Findings
The primary cause of the crash was the in-flight cabin fire which necessitated a rapid descent.
Loss of control occurred during the emergency maneuvering phase.
Probable cause
An in-flight cabin fire led to a loss of control during an attempted emergency landing.