13 fatalities

Fatal Ambulance Flight Crash Near Tepic Airport (XC-DAK)

Tepic, MexicoTakeoff (climb)

On July 7, 1980, an Embraer EMB-110 Bandeirante (registration XC-DAK) operated by Mexican Government was involved in an aviation accident near Tepic, Mexico during takeoff. 13 people were killed. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 4 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-06-12Data APIEditorial standards

A twin-engine aircraft operated by the Mexican Institute for Social Security crashed shortly after takeoff from Tepic Airport. The accident resulted in the deaths of all 13 occupants, including patients and crew.

Incident Overview

An aviation tragedy occurred involving a twin-engine airplane engaged in an emergency medical transport mission. The aircraft was operating on behalf of the Mexican Institute for Social Security (Instituto Mexicano de Seguridad Social). The flight originated at Tepic Airport with the destination set as Guadalajara.

Operational Context and Casualties

The primary purpose of the flight was to serve as an ambulance service, transporting ten patients along with one nurse. The cockpit crew consisted of two pilots, bringing the total number of individuals on board to thirteen. All occupants were confirmed killed in the subsequent crash.

Accident Circumstances

The incident took place approximately three minutes after the aircraft departed from Tepic Airport. The plane crashed into a hillside located a few kilometers from the airport perimeter. Official reports indicate that the specific circumstances leading to the impact remain unknown, with no definitive cause established in the available source material.