Aeroméxico Flight 230

Aeroméxico Flight 230

The aircraft in flames after running off the runway
Accident
Date	27 July 1981
Summary	Runway excursion due to bad weather
Site	Chihuahua International Airport, Chihuahua, Mexico 28.698867°N 105.964245°W / 28.698867; -105.964245
Aircraft
XA-DEN, the aircraft involved in the accident, pictured in 1974
Aircraft type	McDonnell Douglas DC-9-32
Aircraft name	Yucatan
Operator	Aeroméxico
IATA flight No.	AM230
ICAO flight No.	AMX230
Call sign	AEROMEXICO 230
Registration	XA-DEN
Flight origin	Monterey-General Mariano Escobedo International Airport
Destination	Chihuahua International Airport
Occupants	66
Passengers	60
Crew	6
Fatalities	32
Injuries	34
Survivors	34

On July 27, 1981, Aeroméxico Flight 230, operating a domestic passenger flight within Mexico, experienced a hard landing and runway excursion at Chihuahua International Airport. Thirty-two people were killed in the accident.

While the plane was descending, heavy winds caused the plane to bounce upon touchdown. The plane, a McDonnell Douglas DC-9, subsequently skidded off the runway, catching fire, and trapping around half of those on the plane.

Background

The aircraft involved was a McDonnell Douglas DC-9-32, registered as XA-DEN with MSN 47621/729. At the time of the crash, it was 7 years old.

Accident

The flight was uneventful until landing at Chihuahua. There were isolated cumulonimbus clouds with strong squalls and showers during approach and landing. This was compounded by extremely low visibility. Upon touchdown, the aircraft bounced once and struck the ground with immense force. The aircraft then slid off the runway, broke up and caught fire. Thirty-four passengers and crew were able to flee the wreckage; the smoke and fire caused the deaths of those that remained trapped.