20 fatalities

Twin-Engine Plane Crashes into Mountain Near Arteaga, 20 Killed (XC-COX)

Arteaga, MexicoFlight

On August 31, 1988, an Embraer EMB-110 Bandeirante (registration XC-COX) operated by Transporte Aéreo Federal was involved in an aviation accident near Arteaga, Mexico in flight. 20 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Controlled flight into terrain. For unknown reasons, the aircraft was flying at an insufficient altitude. 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 twin-engine aircraft en route from Uruapan to Lázaro Cárdenas struck a mountainside in the Sierra Madre Mountain Range during poor weather, killing all 20 occupants.

Incident

A twin-engine airplane was cruising en route from Uruapan to Lázaro Cárdenas when it impacted the slope of a mountain. The location was approximately 15 kilometers from the town of Arteaga, within the Sierra Madre Mountain Range. At the time of the accident, poor weather conditions prevailed. The force of the collision caused the aircraft to disintegrate. All 20 individuals aboard the flight were killed.

Investigation

Authorities conducted an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash. The official findings identified the probable cause as controlled flight into terrain. According to the report, the airplane was navigating at an altitude that was insufficient for the terrain, though the reasons for this low altitude remain unknown. The investigation did not specify any additional causal factors or contributing elements.

Aftermath

The accident resulted in the complete destruction of the aircraft. The remote mountainous terrain posed challenges for search and recovery operations. Further details about the flight, such as the exact time of day or the specific aircraft type and registration, were not included in the official statement. The investigation concluded without identifying a clear explanation for the insufficient altitude.