| 1949 Mexicana DC-3 crash | |
| Date: | September 26, 1949 |
| Type: | Controlled flight into terrain |
| Occurrence Type: | Accident |
| Site: | Popocatépetl |
| Fatalities: | 24 |
| Injuries: | 0 |
| Origin: | Tuxtla Gutiérrez |
| Stopover0: | Ixtepec, Oaxaca |
| Stopover1: | Oaxaca City |
| Stopover2: | Tapachula |
| Destination: | Mexico City |
| Aircraft Type: | Douglas DC-3A |
| Operator: | Mexicana de Aviacion |
| Tail Number: | XA-DUH |
| Occupants: | 24 |
| Passengers: | 21 |
| Crew: | 3 |
| Survivors: | 0 |
The 1949 Mexicana DC-3 crash was an aviation accident on September 26, 1949, when a Mexicana de Aviacion Douglas DC-3 en route to Benito Juarez International Airport in Mexico City, Mexico crashed into the Popocatépetl volcano, killing all 24 people on board. The aircraft, registered as XA-DUH,[1] was flying from Tapachula on a route that originated in Tuxtla Gutiérrez with intermediate stops in Ixtepec and Oaxaca. The dead included actress Blanca Estela Pavón and senator Gabriel Ramos Millan.[2] The DC-3's pilot was identified as Alfonso Reboul Lasscassies.[3]
The DC-3 left Tapachula at 12:40 local time, for a one hour flight to Mexico City. According to investigations, the DC-3 flying the route that day faced severe turbulence as it arrived over Mexico City. The pilot communicated with an air force base, telling them they were near the volcano.[4]
The airplane was completely destroyed.[5]
The famous Mexican writer and later politician, Andrés Henestrosa, was supposed to be on the flight with his friend, senator Ramos Millan. Henestrosa had a premonition and he boarded a train to Mexico City instead.[6]