Ford 5 accident at Amecameca de Juárez, Mexico, 26 Mar 1936 (XA-BCB)

Accident narrative

The three engine aircraft departed Mexico City Airport at 1030LT on a charter flight to Guatemala City, carrying four crew members and 10 German tourists. While flying over the area of Amecameca de Juárez, the crew attempted to make a tour of the Popocatépetl volcano and the local National Park. While completing a turn at low speed, the aircraft stalled and crashed. All 14 occupants were killed. Crew: J. Preciado Acosta, pilot, Adrian Borchers, engineer, Adolfo Limón, radio operator, Daniel Madrigal, steward. Passengers: Prince Adolf zu Schaumburg-Lippe, Princess Ellen Elisabeth Schaumburg-Lippe, Baron Siegmund von Stieber, Mrs. Dora Thein, Mrs. Viktoria Thein, Baron Elmer von Roneczy, Adolf Franz Igler, Mrs. Marie Margarethe Harder, Mrs. Elisabeth Schroer, Mrs. Lisebet Pust.

Probable cause (official findings): Prior to the accident, XA-BCB was seen flying at a low altitude, and there was speculation that the pilot, in an attempt to give to his passengers a scenic overview of the terrain, may have lost control during a turn because of an insufficient speed or because the aircraft was caught by downdraft.