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Aircraft Crash in the Sea Near Cozumel During Post-Maintenance Check Flight (XA-SEA)

Cozumel, MexicoFlight

On May 15, 1993, a Douglas DC-6 (registration XA-SEA) operated by Carga del Caribe was involved in an aviation accident near Cozumel, Mexico in flight. 3 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The crew performed an altitude loss operation in low visibility conditions with an exaggerated descent angle at a flight level of 2,000 feet over water, which did not allow sufficient space for the recovery of the aircraft before it impacted the water surface. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A).

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-06-11Data APIEditorial standards

A four-engine aircraft crashed into the sea near Cozumel during a post-maintenance check flight in poor weather. The captain was killed, and two other passengers were not recovered.

Incident Overview and Flight Details A four-engine aircraft departed from Cancún Airport at 0922 local time for a post-maintenance check flight. The crew, which included three engineers and two pilots, was tasked with conducting several engine tests and in-flight verifications. The planned route involved flying south to Cozumel to execute an approach without landing, followed by a return to Cancún. During the approach to Cozumel Island, the crew encountered adverse weather conditions characterized by low clouds and rain. In the resulting limited visibility, the aircraft descended below the prescribed altitude of 2,000 feet and crashed into the sea approximately 22 kilometers north of Cozumel Airport. The incident resulted in the death of the captain, serious injuries to the copilot and one passenger, and the non-recovery of two other passengers.

Probable cause

The crew performed an altitude loss operation in low visibility conditions with an exaggerated descent angle at a flight level of 2,000 feet over water, which did not allow sufficient space for the recovery of the aircraft before it impacted the water surface.
Controlled flight into terrain

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