Boeing B-727-200 incident near Harlingen, Texas, February 20, 1982
On February 20, 1982, a Boeing B-727-200, registered XAMEJ, was involved in an incident near Harlingen, Texas (Harlingen Ind.Air Park airport). It was flown under foreign airline rules (Part 129). No one was hurt; 83 people were on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this incident. 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
- February 20, 1982
- Place
- Harlingen, Texas · Harlingen Ind.Air Park · map
- Type
- Incident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 83 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Boeing B-727-200
- Registration
- XAMEJ · no longer on the register · serial 22411
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · foreign airline rules (Part 129)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FAA CONTROL TOWER OPERATOR STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT LANDED LONG AND FAST DURING A HEAVY THUNDERSTORM. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN ABOUT MIDWAY DOWN RUNWAY 17R WHICH IS 8300' LONG. EVIDENCE ALSO INDICATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT HYDROPLANED THE LAST 2000' OF THE RUNWAY BEFORE RUNNING 300' OFF THE END. A READOUT OF THE FDR INDICATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN AT 154 KNOTS IAS (24 KNOTS FASTER THAN TARGETED) WITH AN 8 KNOT TAILWIND.
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
Pilot
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,443 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 638 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 191,000 lb
- Seats: 155
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P & W JT8D-17R (turbojet); 0 hours total
- Operator: Mexicana Airlines
The flight
- Departed from: C Monterrey at 5:26 pm
- Destination: AI Harlingen TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 17, 8,300 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 010° at 8 knots
- Sky: overcast at 400 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 7 | |||
| Passengers | 76 |
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.