What happened
A cargo flight operated on behalf of DHL, traveling from Managua with a scheduled stop in Tapachula before its final destination of Saltillo, was involved in an accident during the landing phase. The aircraft was carrying two pilots and two passengers at the time of the incident. During a night approach to Saltillo Airport on runway 17, the crew performed a go-around and elected to divert to their alternate airport in Monterrey. However, due to inadequate flight planning, the crew was not informed that Monterrey Airport was closed to operations that night.
Following the discovery that the alternate was unavailable, the crew returned to Saltillo and requested permission to land on runway 17 once more. At this time, the weather was characterized by marginal conditions and reduced visibility caused by fog. While executing an ILS CAT I approach, the pilot-in-command descended beneath the minimum descent altitude without establishing visual contact with the runway environment or necessary landing aids. The aircraft type impacted the ground with significant force to the right of the runway centerline near the end of the runway strip. The impact caused the aircraft to roll for several meters, resulting in the loss of the nose landing gear before the plane came to a stop against an embankment. The accident resulted in four injuries and the total loss of the aircraft.
Findings
- The crew failed to verify the operational status of the alternate airport prior to the diversion attempt.
- The pilot continued the descent below the minimum descent altitude without visual reference to the runway.