ASN Aircraft accident McDonnell Douglas DC-10-10 N903WA Mexico City-Juarez International Airport (MEX)

Home » Database » 1979

Status:	Final
Date:	Wednesday 31 October 1979
Time:	05:42
Type:	McDonnell Douglas DC-10-10
Operator:	Western Air Lines
Registration:	N903WA
MSN:	46929/107
First flight:	1973
Total airframe hrs:	24614
Cycles:	7345
Engines:	3 General Electric CF6-6K
Crew:	Fatalities: 9 / Occupants: 11
Passengers:	Fatalities: 63 / Occupants: 77
Total:	Fatalities: 72 / Occupants: 88
Ground casualties:	Fatalities: 1
Aircraft damage:	Damaged beyond repair
Location:	Mexico City-Juarez International Airport (MEX) ( Mexico)
Phase:	Landing (LDG)
Nature:	International Scheduled Passenger
Departure airport:	Los Angeles International Airport, CA (LAX/KLAX), United States of America
Destination airport:	Mexico City-Benito Ju�rez International Airport (MEX/MMMX), Mexico
Flightnumber:	2605

Narrative:
Flight 2605 departed Los Angeles at 01:40 for a flight to Mexico City. Because of refurbishing work on runway 23L, the flight was cleared for a runway 23R approach. Descend through a fog bank was continued below the 600 feet minimum for instrument approaches. The aircraft touched down with the left main gear in the grass left of 23L and with the right main gear on the runway shoulder. Go-around power was added and the nose lifted 10-11deg. The right main gear then collided with a truck located on the runway. The gear leg separated and struck the right tailplane and elevator, causing substantial damage. The aircraft banked to the right until it struck the left wing struck the cab of an excavator, 1500 m from the runway threshold, continued and crashed into a building and caught fire.

Probable Cause:

PROBABLE CAUSE: "Non-compliance with the meteorological minima for the approach procedure, as cleared; failure to comply with the aircraft's operating procedures during the approach phase, and landing on a runway closed to traffic."

Classification:

Takeoff from wrong runway
Runway excursion

Sources:

» ICAO Circular 173-AN/109
» NTSB Safety Recommendations A-80-59/60

Follow-up / safety actions

NTSB issued 2 Safety Recommendations

Show all...

Photos

accident date: 31-10-1979
type: McDonnell Douglas DC-10-10
registration: N903WA

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 Los Angeles International Airport, CA to Mexico City-Benito Ju�rez International Airport as the crow flies is 2484 km (1552 miles).

languages:

DC-10

446 built
7^th loss
4^th fatal accident
3^rd worst accident (at the time)
7^th worst accident (currently)

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Mexico

2^nd worst accident (at the time)
3^rd worst accident (currently)

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Issued: 10-JUL-1980	To: FAA	A-80-59
REVISE FAA HANDBOOK 8260.19 TO REQUIRE THAT SEPARATE STANDARDIZED INSTRUMENT APPROACH CHARTS BE PUBLISHED FOR ALL AIRPORT APPROACHES THAT REQUIRE A SIDESTEP MANEUVER. THESE CHARTS SHOULD CLEARLY INDICATE THE AIRPORT APPROACH PLAN VIEW, THE PROFILE VIEW, AND THE LANDING MINIMA REQUIRED. (Closed - Acceptable Alternate Action)
Issued: 10-JUL-1980	To: FAA	A-80-60
PUBLISH AN ADVISORY CIRCULAR, OR AMEND AN EXISTING ADVISORY CIRCULAR, TO DISSEMINATE INFORMATION ON THE SIDESTEP MANEUVER PROCEDURES, TERMINAL ATC COMMUNICATION PROCEDURES, RADAR SEPARATION AND EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS, AND LANDING MINIMA APPLICABLE TO THE USE OF THE SIDESTEP MANEUVER BY AMERICAN AIR CARRIERS AT BOTH DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN AIRPORTS. (Closed - Acceptable Action)