Douglas DC-10 N903WA

Summary

On 31 October 1979 at about 05:42 local time, a Douglas DC-10 registered N903WA, operated by Western Air Lines, Inc., was involved in an accident during the landing phase of flight near Mexico City, Mexico. 89 people were on board and 72 died, 13 were seriously injured, 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. No probable cause statement is available for this record.

Date

31 October 1979 at 05:42

Classification

Accident

Location

Mexico City, Mexico

Nearest airport

Licenciado Benito

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Douglas DC-10

Registration

N903WA

Category

Fixed-Wing

Engines

3

Operator

Western Air Lines, Inc.

Phase of flight

Landing

Route

Los Angeles, Ca → S

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Dawn

NTSB number

1-0026

72 people died.

The NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. No probable cause statement is present in the source data.

Nothing about the cause is stated here that is not in the source record.

Read the full NTSB narrative

INVEST & REPORTED BY GOVT OF MEX.RWY 23R ASSIGNED, INITIAL T/D OFF 23L.HIT TRUCK.WX-FOG.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.