Incident Overview
Description
The jet was on a flight to Toluca carrying cargo for DHL. Visibility was decreasing from two miles to one mile while on approach. The airplane impacted a 6 feet high wall, approx. 350 m short of the runway 15 threshold. It was considered likely by the investigators that the crew descended below minima in order to obtain visual contact with the ground. Probable cause: “Carelessness of the crew of the altitude of the aircraft, during its final approach, when trying to make visual contact with the runway, in a VMC approach, when the meteorological conditions (fog) imposed an instrument approach (IFR)”. Contributing factors: – continuing a visual approach, when required to be by instruments. – overconfidence of the crew in their experience and ability (pilot with 4669:35 hours total and co-pilot with 2502:45 hours total) – low approach.
Primary Cause
Crew descent below minimum altitude due to fog conditions and a reliance on a visual approach, potentially resulting in a loss of situational awareness and inadequate instrument use.Crew descent below minimum altitude due to fog conditions and a reliance on a visual approach, potentially resulting in a loss of situational awareness and inadequate instrument use.Share on:
