Investigation Summary
The accident occurred during a period of rapidly deteriorating weather. As the aircraft prepared for departure, a thunderstorm developed over the airport, causing the temperature to drop 8 degrees Celsius in one hour. Despite the visible storm, the crew proceeded with the takeoff. During the roll, the aircraft encountered significant wind variations; at one point, it faced a 33-knot crosswind, which shifted into a 22-knot tailwind within seconds of liftoff. This rapid shift, characteristic of a microburst, robbed the Embraer 190 of the lift required to continue its climb. The aircraft impacted the ground left-wing first, approximately 380 meters past the runway threshold. The impact sheared off both engines and started a fire, but the fuselage remained largely intact, allowing for a successful evacuation of all passengers and crew within 90 seconds. The investigation highlighted that the captain was providing unauthorized flight instruction to a pilot who was not yet certified on the E-Jet type, which distracted the crew from monitoring the deteriorating weather and airspeed discrepancies on their primary flight displays.
Final Conclusions
The CIDAIA (Comisión Investigadora y Dictaminadora de Accidentes de Aviación) concluded that the primary cause was the impact against the runway caused by loss of control due to low-altitude windshear. Contributing factors included the crew's decreased situational awareness due to unauthorized instructional tasks, the failure of the crew to detect airspeed variations during the takeoff run, and a lack of adherence to sterile cabin and operational procedures. Additionally, the investigation noted deficiencies in air traffic control, specifically the failure to provide the crew with updated information regarding significant variations in wind speed and direction.
Video Analysis
Unqualified and Unlicensed In The Cockpit | The Terrible Flight Of AeroMexico Connect 2431 — A detailed breakdown of the Aeroméxico Connect 2431 accident, focusing on the unauthorized pilot in the cockpit and the microburst that brought the aircraft down.
If playback is blocked, the owner has disabled embedding — use the link above.
Airframe & Maintenance
Crew Experience
Captain
Carlos Galván Meyran; seriously injured.
First Officer
Daniel Dardon Chávez; occupied the jump seat; minor injuries.
Trainee Pilot
José Ramón Vázquez; occupied the right seat as Pilot Flying; minor injuries.
Systems & Failure Modes
Windshear Detection
The airport at Durango was not equipped with a low-level windshear alert system (LLWAS) at the time of the accident.
Primary Flight Display (PFD)
The PFDs showed differing airspeeds during the takeoff roll, a discrepancy the crew failed to notice due to reduced situational awareness.
Interesting Facts
- 01All 103 people on board survived the crash and subsequent fire.
- 02According to the CIDAIA final report, 14 people suffered serious injuries and 25 suffered minor injuries.
- 03The aircraft was destroyed by the post-impact fire.
- 04The pilot flying during the takeoff was a trainee who was not certified to fly the Embraer 190.
- 05The actual first officer was occupying the cockpit jump seat during the accident.
- 06The aircraft reached a maximum altitude of only 30 feet before the microburst forced it down.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Cockpit Access Regulation
Mexico's Directorate General of Civil Aeronautics (DGAC) issued a regulation prohibiting inactive pilots and flight attendants from occupying the cockpit during flights.
Personnel Termination
Aeroméxico terminated the three pilots involved for violating company procedures regarding cockpit roles and unauthorized training.
Known Controversies & Unanswered Questions
Pilot Union Protest
Reference ↗The labor union representing the pilots protested their firing, arguing the decision was made based on a preliminary report before the full investigation was complete.