USA Jet DC-9 down in Saltillo

[J and E's Daddy]

I tried to translate this the best I could. My Spanish is a bit rusty

When it was cleared to land in the Airport International Plan of Guadalupe, to the 01:15 hours of this Sunday, an airplane DC-9 of cargo load, collapsed on the payment Order José López Gap, exploiting in flames and causing an enormous fire that generated the mobilization of all the crime bodies of the Southeastern Region of Coahuila, even of the I Exercise Mexican. The airplane came originating in Hamilton, Canada, and had done a scale in the Airport of Shudort, United States. It transported 3,6 tons of cargo load for the Great business Powertrain; speculates that the crew did not know the Airport International Plan of Guadalupe, and also ran the version that the pilot never was reported to the control Tower Saltillo, for which probably he brought serious troubles.

The ship, with he registers N-199US and property of it USES-JET, he exploded in flames upon touching land, in two explosions along a pair of kilometers on the folder asfáltica of the payment order. The point of the accident is located to the north of the Airport International Plan of Guadalupe, to some meters of where the Park is built Industrial Friendship Airport. Never in the history of the commercial aviation and of load in the Southeastern Region of Coahuila a such-dimensional airplane had collapsed, for which could have presented an a lot more large tragedy and of extremely considerable dimensions.

At the moment of the closing of this edition, bodies of aid and elements of all the corporations remained in the place of the accident, coordinating the works, and continuing the instructions of the authorities.

 

[TWA]

From CNN:

(CNN) -- A cargo jet crashed Sunday just west of Monterrey, Mexico, killing the pilot and injuring the co-pilot, a company representative said.
They were Americans, CNN has confirmed.
The crash occurred at 2:15 a.m. as the McDonnell-Douglas DC-9-15 freighter approached the airport in Saltillo, Mexico, carrying a load of auto parts, said Donald McNeff, vice president of USA Jet Airlines.
The National Transportation Safety Board, which confirmed the death of the pilot, reported no one was injured on the ground. The co-pilot suffered severe burns.
The NTSB has sent a team of investigators to assist the Mexican government in its probe of the incident.
The jet's trip began at company headquarters at Willow Run Airport in Ypsilanti, Michigan, a half hour west of Detroit, McNeff said.
It then flew to Hamilton, Ontario, where it picked up cargo and continued to Shreveport, Louisiana, where it cleared customs, he said.
It was close to the airport grounds in Saltillo in clear weather when the crash occurred, he said.
USA Jet Airlines, founded more than 20 years ago, carried cargo across the Americas, McNeff said.
About five years ago it added passenger service. It has a 22-plane fleet, including the aircraft involved in the crash.


My condolences to the family, and wish the FO a speedy recovery.

 

[johnsonrod]

Can anyone confirm whether ATP Cliff was involved? I haven't seen him respond. RIP to the Captain and condolences to his family...

 

[Daytonaflyer]

That place MMIO scares the crap out of me. Didn't Amerijet or someone put one in there a year or so ago?

No, unfortunately it was my old company and friend at Ameristar, and it was in Guadalajarra, MX.

Both are sad indeed. Flying in Mexico at night in old airplanes can be very dangerous. My respect and condolences to all those affected.

 

[Mach]

Can anyone confirm whether ATP Cliff was involved? I haven't seen him respond. RIP to the Captain and condolences to his family...

They were not involved. ATPCLIFF and PILOTYIP are fine.

My prayers go out to everyone involved. LM will be missed. I had a chance to fly with him. Great guy.

 

[filejw]

The crew names have been published by a Mexican newspaper with a picture of the injured FO from last night. My choice not link this up because I'd rather see a company press release or a message from a friend.

 

[satpak77]

Black box is recovered, also press is speculating the pilot confused the runway lights with the lights of a major street in the immediate vicinity (lets see what the official report is....)

http://www2.milenio.com/node/42953

FYI

 

[wickedride]

RIP, prayers to the family
Peace
Wickedride

 

[dsee8driver]

Today I lost a great friend whom was a safe and very professional pilot. He was also a FI member, Hawk16e..

I'm sorry you lost a friend. My condolences to you and his family. RIP

 

[Hocus Focus]

The FO's name is correct in the press release and confirmed by USA Jet. I spoke with his brother today he and his father were enroute to Saltillo. FO was former Tower Air, Custom Air, Corporate 727 out of LGB and JALWays.

 

[AC560]

Godspeed

 

[Captain Morgan]

This is aweful. Condolences to the families and friends. I am truly sorry.

 

[T-Gates]

This is like a punch to the gut.

RIP

 

[Ailerongirl]

Godspeed, and my prayers will be with both families.....

 

[727C47]

Godspeed, a terrible tragedy.

 

[hvydriver]

Condolences gents.

 

[Wankel7]

So sorry to hear about this. My thoughts and prayers to those involved and touched by this.

 

[b707guy]

My sincerest condolences to the family, friends, and co-workers of the crew, and best wishes for a speedy recovery for the FO.

press is speculating the pilot confused the runway lights with the lights of a major street in the immediate vicinity (lets see what the official report is....)

If so, it wouldn't be the first time. Never flown into Saltillo, but night, arcs, NDBs, mountainous terrain, airport lighting, etc, make it tough enough. McClellan outside of SAC has a street that is easily confused for the runway. It can happen to any of us. Godspeed.

 

[atpcliff]

Hi.

This really sucks.

I JUST got an email from a buddy who was at USA Jet, but his email said the tail no. was "N704CK", so I was hoping it was NOT a USA Jet airplane and crew.

Then I found this thread...

I just flew with the captain. He is a great guy-very nice, friendly and helpful. He had a LOT of experience, both before coming to USA Jet, and while here.

He was helping me learn what to do to be capt (I am upgrading now, and am home after getting the type done, so I was out of the loop). He was VERY helpful, and a great guy to fly with.

I'm shocked that it happened to him, but I guess that's how it always is-a shock to everyone. Also, Saltillo is not easy to fly into, but we go there the most of anyplace in Mexico.

I don't know the FO. We have had a lot of new FOs lately, and I just don't know all of them yet.

I haven't heard anything from the company or anyone else, except for this thread.

My thoughts are prayers are with those affected by the flight. I hope the FO recovers to fly again.

God Bless LM, the FO, and their families.

cliff
GRB

 

[satpak77]

Let me also say "God Bless" to the flight crew and everyone else touched by this.

I second the comments about Mexico. I have extensive experience down there in my "heavy" King Air 350 (gross = 15,500) and Monterrey and Saltillo can bite you if you are not careful.

Night approach, 1 mile viz, sky obscured, and putting in a 5-6 hours in the cockpit, all on the back side of the clock, a only-god-knows-how-recent Altimeter setting, etc....just pick one of the above and nobody wants that. Now throw in all of them...sure we do it all the time, etc etc blah blah but we still need to be cognizant of the risks we take sometimes.

anyway, ranting.

God bless to the crew and my official stance is lets wait for NTSB final report.

side note (stupid question?) do the USA Jet DC-9's have GPS?

 

[Windsor]

Very sad news. My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone involved.

 

[LR25]

USAJet has some of the hardest working guys in flying, we hungout in LRD a bunch, walking around in the mall, getting coffee or eating at Taco Palenca, he was very nice and laid back. I raise my glass to both of you.

 

[wlacy]

My deepest condolences are given to the families of the crew.

I'm very relieved at the absence of monday-morning-quarterbacking so prevalent on threads of this nature.

 

[vballindaytona]

Ameristar Lear 20 series did

 

[clr4theapch]

I share the same sentiment as all here.. I did not know him in person but on FI, we PMed about RC aircraft we liked to fly.. Good Speed to His Family... and quick recovery to the FO..

 

[cruxx@9]

I also flew with the Captain a few times during my time at USA Jet. A great guy that will be missed. A very sad day indeed.

Godspeed

 

[kingaira90]

side note (stupid question?) do the USA Jet DC-9's have GPS?

yes. gps, egpws, taws etc. -kingaira90

 

[Freight Dog]

My condolences to all of USA Jet pilots, friends and families. It is always heart-breaking to hear news like this.

 

[Justthefacts]

Terrible news

Personally MMIO and many of the other airports in MX are very dangerous. PERIOD.. I don't care how many times you have been to each one.

Even worse in Honduras and other places too,,, MX, Central America and South America flying is nothing to be taken lightly.

As far as the media and what they say,,, who cares because all they do is speculate,,, IT is a tragedy. Maybe they should do something useful like raise money for the families.

I am not sure what they had for TAWS or the database but most likely had to have a GPS for it. None the less it does not make it any safer. Raw data at night in the mountains is DANGEROUS.,

God Bless them and their families. I am truly saddened to hear of this loss,,,,

 

[satpak77]

yes. gps, egpws, taws etc. -kingaira90

ok thanks

new image from another Mex newspaper

http://www.zocalo.com.mx/kompressor/avion6jul08.gif

and another

http://avherald.com/img/usjet_n199us_mmio_080706_1.jpg

from the images it looks like the cockpit back to mid-section remained somewhat intact after the crash. The rest of the airplane is pretty much destroyed as far as the pictures seem to indicate