Aircraft crash near Tepic Airport during approach

2 fatalities • Tepic, Mexico • Landing (descent or approach)

A charter flight returning to Ciudad Obregón crashed short of the runway at Tepic Airport following multiple flight plan cancellations and destination changes.

What happened

A charter flight operating from Ciudad Obregón Airport toward Toluca departed at 20:01 local time with two pilots and four passengers on board. Shortly after departure, the crew cancelled the original flight plan and returned to the departure airport. A subsequent takeoff attempt occurred at 21:18 local time. During this second flight, the crew repeatedly modified their intended destination, first requesting a diversion to Tepic, then Guadalajara, and subsequently Puerto Vallarta.

Following instructions from Air Traffic Control stating that Guadalajara Airport was unavailable for arrivals, the crew elected to proceed to Tepic. However, Tepic Airport was also closed to operations at the time. While performing the final approach to the airfield, the aircraft struck the ground approximately 8.3 km before reaching runway 02. The accident resulted in six fatalities.

Findings

Investigation into the crash revealed that the crew failed to maintain sufficient altitude during the approach. Additional contributing factors included the fact that the destination airport was closed to traffic at the time of the incident, and the approach light system was not operational.

Probable cause

The crew's failure to maintain adequate altitude during a final approach to a closed airport.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1995-06-22 Learjet 35 accident near Tepic, Mexico?

A charter flight returning to Ciudad Obregón crashed short of the runway at Tepic Airport following multiple flight plan cancellations and destination changes.

Were there any fatalities in the 1995-06-22 Learjet 35 accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 2 fatalities.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1995-06-22 involved a Learjet 35, registration XA-SWF, operated by Aero Reservaciones Ejecutivas - ARE, at Tepic, Mexico.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The crew's failure to maintain adequate altitude during a final approach to a closed airport.

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