The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
Accidents · NTSB FTW04WA017 · Preliminary: the investigation is not finished

Bell 206B accident near Mexico City, Mx, October 29, 2003

On October 29, 2003 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Bell 206B (helicopter), registered XAAFX, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mexico City. It was flown under non-U.S. commercial rules. 3 people were seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).

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 29, 2003 · about 10:30 pm local time
Place
Mexico City, Mexico
Type
Accident
Injuries
3 people were seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Bell 206B · all 206Bs on the register
Registration
XAAFX · no longer on the register
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Flight · non-U.S. commercial rules

The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English

The aircraft

  • Landing gear: fixed

The flight

  • Departed from: Mexico City at 10:30 pm
  • Destination: Queretaro
  • Flight plan: VFR

Weather at the time

  • Visibility: 3 statute miles
  • Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
  • Altimeter: 29.92 inHg

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Crew1
Passengers22

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.