Cessna 401 crash, Oct 19, 2021 (1 killed), Tapachula
Cessna 401 accident on October 19, 2021 near Tapachula, Chiapas, Mexico with 1 fatality. Cause: Ground impact during a tight turn toward the side of...
- Date: October 19, 2021
- Aircraft: Cessna 401
- Location: Tapachula, Chiapas, Mexico
- Fatalities: 1
- Phase of flight: Takeoff and climb
- Cause: Ground impact during a tight turn toward the side of the underperforming right engine. Contributing were continuing the flight despite fuel flow failures, not following the engine failure procedure and a fatigue fracture of the fuel pump shaft.
A Cessna 401 on a local flight to release sterile Mediterranean fruit flies had engine trouble shortly after takeoff from Tapachula. The pilot turned right and the aircraft crashed in a mango plantation, killing the sole occupant. The finding was a fatigue fracture of the fuel pump shaft on the right engine, with the pilot continuing despite earlier fuel flow problems.