Cessna 310 accident near Ciudad Victoria, Mx, October 21, 2008
On October 21, 2008 at about 10:10 pm local time, a Cessna 310, registered XBKPF, was destroyed in an accident during takeoff near Ciudad Victoria (Pedro J. Mendez Airport). It was a business flight under non-U.S. private rules. 5 people were killed.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 21, 2008 · about 10:10 pm local time
- Place
- Ciudad Victoria, Mexico · Pedro J. Mendez Airport
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 5 people were killed.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Cessna 310 310Q · all 310s on the register
- Registration
- XBKPF · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · non-U.S. private rules
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On October 21, 2008 at approximately 1710 central daylight time a Cessna 310, Mexican Registration XB-KPF experienced a loss of power on takeoff from Pedro J. Mendez Airport, Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas, Mexico. The pilot attempted to return to the airport and aircraft impacted level desert terrain 45 degrees off to the right of the side of the departure end of the runway. The pilot and the 4 passengers were fatally injured. The filght was destined for Nuevo Laredo, Teamaulipas, Mexico. Technical advisers from Cessna Aircraft and Teledyne Continental Motors traveled to Ciudad Victoria to assist in the DGAC Investigation. The engines were field inspected. Engine continuity established, compression and exhaust of all cylinders was established, both magneto couplings engagement was checked, and harness spark to the top leads was confirmed. Both engines and propellers are being shipped to the manufacturers for further examination. The fuel boost pumps are being shipped to Cessna for further examination. A Garmin 396 hand held Global Positioning System (GPS) is being shipped to the NTSB along with the fuel indicator guage from the cockpit for NTSB laboratory examination. The investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Government of Mexico. This report is for information purposes only and contains only information released by the Government of Mexico. Further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: Secretaria de Comunicaciones y Transportes (SCT) Direccion General de Aeronutica Civil (DGAC) Col. san Juan de Arrgon, 3-seccion Del. Venustiano Carrabza Mexico, D.F, Mexico c.p. 15620 Telephone: 55-2598-0138
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (partial) during takeoff defining event
Crew member
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Teledyne Continental Motors IO-470 (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Teledyne Continental Motors IO-470 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MMCV Ciudad Victoria
- Destination: MMNL Nuevao Laredo
- Flight plan: not recorded
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.