
Narrative:
Aeroméxico Flight 2431 operated by an Aeroméxico Connect Embraer ERJ-190 impacted airport terrain shortly after commencing takeoff from runway 03 at Guadalupe Victoria International Airport (MMDO), Durango, and a post-impact fire ensued. All 103 occupants survived but 14 suffered serious injuries.
The aircraft arrived at Durango from Mexico City as flight 2430 at 14:11 hours local time, 23 minutes ahead of schedule. As the ERJ-190 was prepared for the return flight there was a broken layer of cumulonimbus clouds at 2500 feet. Airport weather information shows that a thunderstorm had developed by 15:18 hours local time and the temperature had dropped from 28°C to 20°C over the previous hour.
In the flight crew on board flight AM2431 consisted of a captain, co-pilot and an observer. The observer was a licensed commercial pilot with type rating for Beech King Air planes. He was in the process of obtaining a type rating for Embraer jets and had accumulated 64 hours of simulator time.
The captain allowed the observer to take the right hand seat and the co-pilot occupied the jump seat. He also allowed the observer to act as Pilot Flying.
The aircraft commenced the takeoff roll on runway 03 at 15:22 hours local time (planned departure time was 15:09 hours).
During the takeoff roll there were notable variations in airspeed and wind direction. At 15:22:42 hours, the aircraft was accelerating through an airspeed of 146 knots. Wind at that time was 47 degrees (from the right-hand side) at 33 knots. Eight seconds later the aircraft had rotated and was climbing through 8 feet radio altitude at an airspeed of 145 knots. By that time the wind had shifted to a crosswind: 103 degrees at 11 knots. The aircraft reached a highest altitude of about 30 feet. At 15:22:56 hours, the aircraft had descended to 19 feet and was caught in a 22-knot tailwind of 30 degrees.
The aircraft then hit the ground to the left of the runway, left wing first. Both engines broke away during the subsequent ground slide. The aircraft came to rest about 380 meters past the runway threshold and 320 meters past the paved end of the runway, slightly to the left of the extended centreline. The length of runway 03 is 2900 m (9514 ft).
Probable cause: "Impact against the runway caused by loss of control of the aircraft in the final phase of the take-off run by low altitude windshear that caused a loss of speed and lift".
CONTRIBUTING FACTORS:
Crew:
(a) Decrease in situational awareness of the SLI2431 flight crew when the commander was performing unauthorized instructional tasks without being qualified to provide flight instruction and to assign co-pilot and Pilot Flying duties to a an uncertified and unlicensed pilot.
(b) Failure to detect variations in the indicator displayed by the airspeed indicator on the PFD during the take-off run.
(c) Lack of adherence to sterile cabin procedures and operational procedures (TVC; Changes of runway and/or take off conditions after door closings; Take off in adverse windshear conditions) established in the Flight Operations Manual, the Dispatch Manual and the Standard Operating Procedures of Aerolitoral, S. A. de C. V.
Navigation Services in the Mexican Air Space:
a) Lack of adherence to procedure 7.18 "Cizalleo a baja altura" published in the Manual de Gestión de Tránsito Aéreo de México, Ed.2018.
b) Lack of adherence to the stipulated in point 7.4.1.2 Aerodrome and meteorological information, subsection 7.4.1.2.1 and 7.4.1.2.2 of the Manual de Gestión de Transito Aéreo de México, Ed. 2018, to provide information on important variations in wind direction and speed, value of visibility existing at the time of takeoff and significant meteorological conditions.
c) Lack of supervisory personnel in TWR DGO.
Loss of control
» 24-horas.mx
MMDO 311844Z 12003KT 12SM BKN025TCU BKN200 26/11 A3026 RMK 8/201 ISOL CB
19:41 UTC / 14:41 local time:
MMDO 311941Z 01005KT 10SM BKN025CB 28/10 A3023 RMK 8/300
20:18 UTC / 15:18 local time:
MMDO 312018Z 07003KT 7SM TSRA BKN020CB 20/13 A3023 RMK 8/900 TSRAB13
21:03 UTC / 16:03 local time:
MMDO 312103Z RTD 28007KT 7SM OVC015CB 17/14 A3024 RMK SLP118 57014 956 8/9 // PISTA CERRADA POR ACFT ACCIDENTADA
FDR parameters of takeoff
accident date: 31-07-2018
type: Embraer ERJ-190AR
registration: XA-GAL
accident date: 31-07-2018
type: Embraer ERJ-190AR
registration: XA-GAL
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Tuesday 31 July 2018 |
| Time: | 15:22 |
| Type: |  Embraer ERJ 190AR |
| Operator: | Aeroméxico Connect |
| Registration: | XA-GAL |
| MSN: | 19000173 |
| First flight: | 2008 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 27257 |
| Cycles: | 18200 |
| Engines: | 2 General Electric CF34-10E6 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 5 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 98 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 103 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Aircraft fate: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | Durango-Guadalupe Victoria Airport (DGO) ( Mexico)
|
| Phase: | Takeoff (TOF) |
| Nature: | Domestic Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Durango-Guadalupe Victoria Airport (DGO/MMDO), Mexico |
| Mexico City-Benito Juárez International Airport (MEX/MMMX), Mexico | |
| Flightnumber: | AM2431 |
Aeroméxico Flight 2431 operated by an Aeroméxico Connect Embraer ERJ-190 impacted airport terrain shortly after commencing takeoff from runway 03 at Guadalupe Victoria International Airport (MMDO), Durango, and a post-impact fire ensued. All 103 occupants survived but 14 suffered serious injuries.
The aircraft arrived at Durango from Mexico City as flight 2430 at 14:11 hours local time, 23 minutes ahead of schedule. As the ERJ-190 was prepared for the return flight there was a broken layer of cumulonimbus clouds at 2500 feet. Airport weather information shows that a thunderstorm had developed by 15:18 hours local time and the temperature had dropped from 28°C to 20°C over the previous hour.
In the flight crew on board flight AM2431 consisted of a captain, co-pilot and an observer. The observer was a licensed commercial pilot with type rating for Beech King Air planes. He was in the process of obtaining a type rating for Embraer jets and had accumulated 64 hours of simulator time.
The captain allowed the observer to take the right hand seat and the co-pilot occupied the jump seat. He also allowed the observer to act as Pilot Flying.
The aircraft commenced the takeoff roll on runway 03 at 15:22 hours local time (planned departure time was 15:09 hours).
During the takeoff roll there were notable variations in airspeed and wind direction. At 15:22:42 hours, the aircraft was accelerating through an airspeed of 146 knots. Wind at that time was 47 degrees (from the right-hand side) at 33 knots. Eight seconds later the aircraft had rotated and was climbing through 8 feet radio altitude at an airspeed of 145 knots. By that time the wind had shifted to a crosswind: 103 degrees at 11 knots. The aircraft reached a highest altitude of about 30 feet. At 15:22:56 hours, the aircraft had descended to 19 feet and was caught in a 22-knot tailwind of 30 degrees.
The aircraft then hit the ground to the left of the runway, left wing first. Both engines broke away during the subsequent ground slide. The aircraft came to rest about 380 meters past the runway threshold and 320 meters past the paved end of the runway, slightly to the left of the extended centreline. The length of runway 03 is 2900 m (9514 ft).
Probable Cause:
Probable cause: "Impact against the runway caused by loss of control of the aircraft in the final phase of the take-off run by low altitude windshear that caused a loss of speed and lift".
CONTRIBUTING FACTORS:
Crew:
(a) Decrease in situational awareness of the SLI2431 flight crew when the commander was performing unauthorized instructional tasks without being qualified to provide flight instruction and to assign co-pilot and Pilot Flying duties to a an uncertified and unlicensed pilot.
(b) Failure to detect variations in the indicator displayed by the airspeed indicator on the PFD during the take-off run.
(c) Lack of adherence to sterile cabin procedures and operational procedures (TVC; Changes of runway and/or take off conditions after door closings; Take off in adverse windshear conditions) established in the Flight Operations Manual, the Dispatch Manual and the Standard Operating Procedures of Aerolitoral, S. A. de C. V.
Navigation Services in the Mexican Air Space:
a) Lack of adherence to procedure 7.18 "Cizalleo a baja altura" published in the Manual de Gestión de Tránsito Aéreo de México, Ed.2018.
b) Lack of adherence to the stipulated in point 7.4.1.2 Aerodrome and meteorological information, subsection 7.4.1.2.1 and 7.4.1.2.2 of the Manual de Gestión de Transito Aéreo de México, Ed. 2018, to provide information on important variations in wind direction and speed, value of visibility existing at the time of takeoff and significant meteorological conditions.
c) Lack of supervisory personnel in TWR DGO.
Accident investigation:

 |
|
Classification:
Windshear/downdraftLoss of control
Sources:
» Aéromexico statement» 24-horas.mx
METAR Weather report:
18:44 UTC / 13:44 local time:MMDO 311844Z 12003KT 12SM BKN025TCU BKN200 26/11 A3026 RMK 8/201 ISOL CB
19:41 UTC / 14:41 local time:
MMDO 311941Z 01005KT 10SM BKN025CB 28/10 A3023 RMK 8/300
20:18 UTC / 15:18 local time:
MMDO 312018Z 07003KT 7SM TSRA BKN020CB 20/13 A3023 RMK 8/900 TSRAB13
21:03 UTC / 16:03 local time:
MMDO 312103Z RTD 28007KT 7SM OVC015CB 17/14 A3024 RMK SLP118 57014 956 8/9 // PISTA CERRADA POR ACFT ACCIDENTADA
Photos
FDR parameters of takeoff
accident date: 31-07-2018
type: Embraer ERJ-190AR
registration: XA-GAL
accident date: 31-07-2018
type: Embraer ERJ-190AR
registration: XA-GAL
Video, social media
#LoÚltimo Asà luce la aeronave de Aeroméxico que tuvo un percance en el Aeropuerto Guadalupe Victoria de Durango. pic.twitter.com/6UTNhhIA31
— REFORMACOM (@Reforma) 31 juli 2018
Aircraft history
| date | registration | operator | remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | PT-SDI | Embraer | first flight |
| 21 May 2008 | N960UW | US Airways | |
| Nov. 2009 | N960UW | Republic Airlines | op. for Midwest Airlines |
| Dec. 2009 | N167HQ | Republic Airlines | new registration |
| 27 June 2014 | XA-GAL | Aeroméxico Connect |
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Durango-Guadalupe Victoria Airport to Mexico City-Benito Juárez International Airport as the crow flies is 763 km (477 miles).
Accident location: Exact; deduced from official accident report.
Distance from Durango-Guadalupe Victoria Airport to Mexico City-Benito Juárez International Airport as the crow flies is 763 km (477 miles).
Accident location: Exact; deduced from official accident report.
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
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