Narrative:
A Learjet 25 corporate jet crashed near Iturbide, Mexico while en route on a flight between Monterrey and Toluca Airport (TLC), Mexico. There were two pilots and five passengers on board. All were killed in the crash.
The airplane had been chartered to transport Mexican-American singer Jenni Rivera and four others to Toluca following an evening concert in the Monterrey Arena.
The flight departed Monterrey at 03:19 and began to climb with the intention of reaching 37,000 ft with an average climb rate of about 1,800 ft/s. At about 03:30:15, two and a half minutes before the final descent, the aircraft stopped climbing and held an altitude of approximately 26,000 ft for about 15 seconds. At 03:31:30 the aircraft again held an altitude of 28,000 ft for a little over 15 seconds before climbing to 28,700 ft. Then at 03:32:11 the aircraft descended 500 ft, returned to 28,800 ft, and then descended until it collided with mountainous terrain at an altitude of 5600 feet above sea level.
The NTSB laboratory assisted in the examination of the horizontal stabilizer trim actuator. The examination indicate no evidence of pre-existing damage, corrosion or fatigue. The fracture surfaces of the actuator were indicative of overstress failure as a result of impact.
It appeared that the captain was not allowed to operate a commercial flight given his age (78 years old). The copilot had an FAA license which lacked a type rating for Learjet aircraft.
CAUSE: (translated from Spanish report) Loss of control of the airplane for undetermined reasons.
Loss of control
» CNN Espanol
Flight profile of N345MC
Altitude profile of N345MC
Altitude and speed profile of N345MC
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Sunday 9 December 2012 |
| Time: | 03:33 |
| Type: |  Learjet 25 |
| Operator: | Starwood Management LLC |
| Registration: | N345MC |
| MSN: | 25-046 |
| First flight: | 1969 |
| Engines: | 2 General Electric CJ610-6 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 5 / Occupants: 5 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 7 / Occupants: 7 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Aircraft fate: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | near Iturbide ( Mexico)
|
| Crash site elevation: | 1707 m (5600 feet) amsl |
| Phase: | En route (ENR) |
| Nature: | Executive |
| Departure airport: | Monterrey-General Mariano Escobedo International Airport (MTY/MMMY), Mexico |
| Toluca Airport (TLC/MMTO), Mexico |
A Learjet 25 corporate jet crashed near Iturbide, Mexico while en route on a flight between Monterrey and Toluca Airport (TLC), Mexico. There were two pilots and five passengers on board. All were killed in the crash.
The airplane had been chartered to transport Mexican-American singer Jenni Rivera and four others to Toluca following an evening concert in the Monterrey Arena.
The flight departed Monterrey at 03:19 and began to climb with the intention of reaching 37,000 ft with an average climb rate of about 1,800 ft/s. At about 03:30:15, two and a half minutes before the final descent, the aircraft stopped climbing and held an altitude of approximately 26,000 ft for about 15 seconds. At 03:31:30 the aircraft again held an altitude of 28,000 ft for a little over 15 seconds before climbing to 28,700 ft. Then at 03:32:11 the aircraft descended 500 ft, returned to 28,800 ft, and then descended until it collided with mountainous terrain at an altitude of 5600 feet above sea level.
The NTSB laboratory assisted in the examination of the horizontal stabilizer trim actuator. The examination indicate no evidence of pre-existing damage, corrosion or fatigue. The fracture surfaces of the actuator were indicative of overstress failure as a result of impact.
It appeared that the captain was not allowed to operate a commercial flight given his age (78 years old). The copilot had an FAA license which lacked a type rating for Learjet aircraft.
Probable Cause:
CAUSE: (translated from Spanish report) Loss of control of the airplane for undetermined reasons.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Classification:
Cause undetermined Loss of control
Sources:
» Ministry of Communications and Transport (SCT)» CNN Espanol
Photos
Flight profile of N345MC
Altitude profile of N345MC
Altitude and speed profile of N345MC
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 Monterrey-General Mariano Escobedo International Airport to Toluca Airport as the crow flies is 714 km (446 miles).
Accident location: Exact; as reported in the official accident report.
Distance from Monterrey-General Mariano Escobedo International Airport to Toluca Airport as the crow flies is 714 km (446 miles).
Accident location: Exact; as reported in the 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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Learjet 25
Mexico- 64th worst accident (at the time)
- 67th worst accident (currently)
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