18 fatalities

1981-11-08: Douglas DC-9 (XA-DEO) — AeroMéxico — Zihuatanejo, Mexico

Zihuatanejo, MexicoFlight

On November 8, 1981, a Douglas DC-9 (registration XA-DEO) operated by AeroMéxico was involved in an aviation accident near Zihuatanejo, Mexico in flight. 18 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The crash resulted from a failure to follow emergency procedures following an unidentified cabin decompression event. 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.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 1781222082Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft crashed into a mountainside in Mexico after experiencing a loss of cabin pressure during its flight from Acapulco.

What happened

Shortly after departing from Acapulco-General Juan N. Álvarez Airport, the aircraft was maintaining a cruising altitude of 31,000 feet when a sudden decompression occurred within the cabin. In response to this emergency, the crew initiated an emergency descent and requested permission to return to the departure airport for an unplanned landing.

During the descent, while the aircraft was at approximately 6,000 feet, it collided with a mountain slope located in the Sierra de Guerrero, roughly 65 km east of Zihuatanejo. The force of the impact caused the airplane to disintegrate. There were 18 fatalities among the occupants of the flight.

Findings

Investigations into the accident highlighted two primary issues. While the specific origin of the cabin decompression has not been determined, it was noted that the crew did not adhere to established emergency protocols during the descent.

Probable cause

The crash resulted from a failure to follow emergency procedures following an unidentified cabin decompression event.