On June 20, 1973, a Douglas DC-9 (registration XA-SOC) operated by AeroMéxico was involved in an aviation accident near Puerto Vallarta, Mexico during landing or approach. 27 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The aircraft struck a mountainside during a night descent in low visibility. 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.
An aircraft crashed into a mountainside during its descent to Puerto Vallarta, resulting in the deaths of all 27 people on board.
What happened
During a nighttime approach to Puerto Vallarta-Gustavo Diaz Ordaz Airport, the crew began their descent under conditions of restricted visibility. While maneuvering toward the destination, the aircraft impacted the terrain at the slope of Mt Las Minas. The impact occurred approximately 32 km before reaching runway 04.
The collision resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft. There were 27 fatalities among the occupants, with no survivors reported from the flight.
Findings
The descent was conducted during nighttime operations with limited visibility.
The primary factor in the accident was the impact with terrain during the approach phase.
Probable cause
The aircraft struck a mountainside during a night descent in low visibility.