BajaNomad

Small plane crashes into Tijuana car shop, killing 3

BajaNews - 11-1-2011 at 09:44 AM

http://channel6newsonline.com/2011/11/small-plane-crashes-in...

1 NOVEMBER 2011

TIJUANA, MEXICO (BNO NEWS) -- Three people were killed on early Monday afternoon when a small plane crashed into a car shop in northern Mexico near the U.S. border with California, officials said on Tuesday.

The accident happened at around 12 p.m. local time some 300 meters (984 feet) from Tijuana International Airport in the Libertad Parte Alta neighborhood of the city. It is just a short distance from the Mexico-U.S. border.

Police said both people on board the aircraft were killed while a person at the car shop was also killed. They were identified as pilot Francisco Zermeņo, his 17-year-old daughter Olivia Zermeņo Urrea and 40-year-old Adalberto Gonzalez Ochoa who had just arrived at the car shop.

Despite the ground victim, Tijuana Fire Department chief Carlos Martinez said it was 'fortunate' the plane crashed into the car shop and not into a more busy area. "We are not sure if the pilot decided to try to land there, but if it had crashed into one of the houses, a worse tragedy would have occurred," he said.

The crash also caused damage to at least seven vehicles near the car shop. Four of the damaged vehicles were completely burnt, officials said. Mexico's Attorney General's office and the Communication and Transportation Department have launched an investigation.

BajaNews - 11-1-2011 at 09:47 AM

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/oct/31/three-killed-...

By Sandra Dibble

"The accident occurred after the twin-engine Piper Aerostar took off at 11:00 a.m., heading to Puerto Vallarta with a stop in the community of Loreto in Baja California Sur, authorities said."

"The plane was registered with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration. (Pilot Francisco Zermeņo Castaņeda), named as the owner, listed a Las Vegas address. The U.S. Consulate in Tijuana could not confirm Monday afternoon whether or not Zermeņo or either of the other two fatalities were U.S. citizens."

O.G. - 11-1-2011 at 10:24 AM

I used to own/fly a Piper Aerostar. Beautiful; but hot, fast and very unforgiving. More than one has been mistaken for a turbo prop and been fueled up with Jet fuel instead of 100LL, causing loss of power just as you clear the runway.

Mengano - 11-1-2011 at 10:44 AM

It was N76VK, a Ted Smith Aerostar 601P.



It should be impossible to put Jet fuel in it if it had the fuel tank filler AD's done. The pilot was 62 and very experienced. I would go with a physical/medical problem first.

[Edited on 11-1-2011 by Mengano]

Skeet/Loreto - 11-1-2011 at 11:49 AM

Too Bad.

If I may tell a short story:
Back in I think 1970 or 71 I attented the Society of Air Safety Investigators Convention in Las Vegas. Ted Smith had his New Aerostar there and I was invited to go along on a Demo and go to fly that Beautifull Airplane for about and Hour. What an Experience. I remember that when you dropped the Nose it picked up Speed much faster than a Beechcraft V Tail. Will never forget the time in that Airplane!!

Skeet/Loreto

sanquintinsince73 - 11-1-2011 at 12:02 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by O.G.
I used to own/fly a Piper Aerostar. Beautiful; but hot, fast and very unforgiving. More than one has been mistaken for a turbo prop and been fueled up with Jet fuel instead of 100LL, causing loss of power just as you clear the runway.


All's I know about airplanes is :

1) After my military service I vowed never to get on anything that flies ever again....especially helo's.

2) Never jump out of a perfectly good airplane.

3) Never again be on an airplane when it conduct's a tactical landing.

What do you mean by "very unforgiving"?

capt. mike - 11-1-2011 at 12:54 PM

From Frank Borman astronaut and frmr head of Eastern Airlines:

A superior pilot uses his superior skills to avoid situations where he needs them.

unforgiving simply means make little mistakes and you may get bit.
aerostars are a "pilot's" airplane known to be very slippery and with a tight operating envelope.

many insurers require recurrent training at flight safety or simcom twice a year or you can't get insured.

it is a hot rod of the light twin market for sure. Designed for speed.

sanquintinsince73 - 11-1-2011 at 01:02 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by capt. mike
From Frank Borman astronaut and frmr head of Eastern Airlines:

A superior pilot uses his superior skills to avoid situations where he needs them.

unforgiving simply means make little mistakes and you may get bit.
aerostars are a "pilot's" airplane known to be very slippery and with a tight operating envelope.

many insurers require recurrent training at flight safety or simcom twice a year or you can't get insured.

it is a hot rod of the light twin market for sure. Designed for speed.


Got it. Thank you, sir.