Narrative:
A Rockwell Sabreliner 60 jet was destroyed when it impacted a mountain side while descending towards Chihuahua Airport, Mexico. All ten occupants were killed.
The airplane operated on a flight from Cuernavaca to Chihuahua with an en route stop at Torreón.
The descent and approach for runway 36R at Chihuahua calls for passing the Delicias VOR, located at 25 NM from the airport, at 10,000 feet and intercepting the 178 radial before commencing the descent towards the airport.
The airplane passed the VOR at 9,000 feet. It impacted a mountainside at 22,8 NM from the airport at an altitude of 7000 feet (2100 m) on the 180 radial of the VOR.
Probable cause: "Impact against mountainous terrain due to lack of application by the crew of the approach and entry procedures to runway 36R (right), approved and published in the aeronautical information publications manual (AIP), and failure to comply with the tower instructions by not maintaining the minimum safety height indicated during the descent".
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Monday 11 February 1991 |
| Time: | 16:25 |
| Type: |  North American Rockwell Sabreliner 60 |
| Operator: | TVA - Travel Air SA |
| Registration: | XA-RNR |
| MSN: | 306-49 |
| First flight: | 1969 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 7948 |
| Engines: | 2 Pratt & Whitney JT12A-8 Turbo Wasp |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 3 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 8 / Occupants: 8 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 11 / Occupants: 11 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Aircraft fate: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | 42 km (26.3 mls) S of Chihuahua Airport (CUU) ( Mexico)
|
| Crash site elevation: | 2100 m (6890 feet) amsl |
| Phase: | En route (ENR) |
| Nature: | Domestic Non Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Torreón Airport (TRC/MMTC), Mexico |
| Chihuahua-Gen Fierro Villalobos Airport (CUU/MMCU), Mexico |
A Rockwell Sabreliner 60 jet was destroyed when it impacted a mountain side while descending towards Chihuahua Airport, Mexico. All ten occupants were killed.
The airplane operated on a flight from Cuernavaca to Chihuahua with an en route stop at Torreón.
The descent and approach for runway 36R at Chihuahua calls for passing the Delicias VOR, located at 25 NM from the airport, at 10,000 feet and intercepting the 178 radial before commencing the descent towards the airport.
The airplane passed the VOR at 9,000 feet. It impacted a mountainside at 22,8 NM from the airport at an altitude of 7000 feet (2100 m) on the 180 radial of the VOR.
Probable Cause:
Probable cause: "Impact against mountainous terrain due to lack of application by the crew of the approach and entry procedures to runway 36R (right), approved and published in the aeronautical information publications manual (AIP), and failure to comply with the tower instructions by not maintaining the minimum safety height indicated during the descent".
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Classification:
Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) - Mountain
Sources:
» El Siglo de Torreón 14-2-1991Photos
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 Torreón Airport to Chihuahua-Gen Fierro Villalobos Airport as the crow flies is 428 km (267 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
Distance from Torreón Airport to Chihuahua-Gen Fierro Villalobos Airport as the crow flies is 428 km (267 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
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.
languages: 
Mexico
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Sabreliner
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