Accident Overview
On January 9, 2007, at 2323 central standard time, a Gates Learjet model 24F airplane, registration N444TW, serial number 348, was destroyed after impacting terrain approximately 18.8 nautical miles east of Guadalajara, State of Jalisco, in the Republic of Mexico. The aircraft was registered to Sierra American Corporation of Wilmington, Delaware, and operated by Ameristar Jet Charter, Inc., of Addison, Texas, as Ameristar Flight 878. The flight was conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 as an on-demand cargo flight.
Flight History
The cargo flight originated in Laredo, Texas, at about 2210, with the Don Miguel Hidalgo International Airport (MMGL) near Guadalajara, Mexico, as its intended destination. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed.
Communications and Radar Data
Mexican Air Traffic Control personnel reported that the flight approached MMGL from the north. At 2313, Guadalajara Approach Control cleared the flight to descend to 12,000 feet, provided an altimeter setting of 30.28, and informed the flight to expect radar vectors for the ILS runway 28 approach. After receiving a vector of 190 to intercept the localizer for the ILS runway 28 approach, communications between the flight and the controller clarified which runway was active. At 2318:00, the flight was given a right turn to a heading of 200 degrees. At 2318:56, the flight was cleared to descend to 10,000 feet, and at 2320:38, to 9,000 feet. The airplane was last observed on radar descending through 9,200 feet while crossing the GDL VOR 085 degree radial.
Injuries and Damage
The airline transport-rated pilot and the commercial pilot functioning as first officer were fatally injured. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact.
Probable Cause
The official probable cause was controlled flight into terrain.