What happened
On the evening of October 26, 2001, an air ambulance flight involving a Learjet 25B, registration N715MH, was conducting a mission from Houston Hobby Airport. The flight path included a scheduled stop at Matamoros Airport to complete necessary customs procedures before proceeding to its destination. During the final approach and touchdown at Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas, the aircraft experienced a significant mechanical failure.
As the plane made contact with the runway, both main landing gears collapsed. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the airframe. Despite the severity of the gear collapse, there were no injuries reported among the five people on board, which included the pilot, the first officer, two medical attendants, and two passengers.
Findings
- The flight was conducted under instrument flight rules during night operations with visual meteorological conditions.
- The aircraft was owned and managed by American Jet International, based in Houston, Texas.
- The primary factor in the accident was the simultaneous collapse of both main landing gear assemblies during the landing phase.