Cirrus crash, Mexico

MikeD

Administrator
Staff member
Was enroute from Rocky Point, MX to Nogales, AZ. Disappeared from radar about 60 miles south of the border. Crashed in the desert with the pilot surviving, but injured...believe chute deployment was made. Pilot was able to make a phone call to Mazatlan ARTCC, but didn't know his location. Mexican aviation officials were able to launch a rescue helicopter to the last radar plot, and found the wreckage and pilot. Pilot medevac'd and wreckage left in place.

Good work to the Mexico aviation officials and Mazatlan/Albuquerque ARTCCs.
 
Many experimentals have them. I've flown a HiMax and Kitfox that had them.

Not surprisingly, certification, cost, and demand is the issue.

The biggest issue is weight. I know you can retrofit old 172, 182 airframes, and I am pretty sure it is a factory option on new models, but as you can imagine, it destroys your already minimum useful load.
 
The biggest issue is weight. I know you can retrofit old 172, 182 airframes, and I am pretty sure it is a factory option on new models, but as you can imagine, it destroys your already minimum useful load.

But there's 4 seats in the plane.....What do you mean you can take three more adults with you......? ;-)
 
Mike thanks for posting this, I have been searching news papers for information. I was coming back home from Cabo Sunday and was attempting to relay information from Mazatlan to the pilot amongst a few other aircraft to no avail after the pilot relayed his coordinates.
 
Mike thanks for posting this, I have been searching news papers for information. I was coming back home from Cabo Sunday and was attempting to relay information from Mazatlan to the pilot amongst a few other aircraft to no avail after the pilot relayed his coordinates.

It's not in the news at all, unfortunately, that I've seen.
 
He survived and is doing well.

I think he's a member of Jetcareers, but I can't remember his login name.

I'll tell him about the thread over on Facebook and maybe he'll chime in.

(It's a small world, folks!)

1780855_10100282525673478_372068519_n.jpg
 
He survived and is doing well.

I think he's a member of Jetcareers, but I can't remember his login name.

I'll tell him about the thread over on Facebook and maybe he'll chime in.

(It's a small world, folks!)

View attachment 27125

That's the one.

Was checked by paramedics post-pickup, and flown back to (I believe) Hermosillo. Wreck left where it is, don't know what the disposition will be.
 
Last edited:
He's going to pop in and say something about his experience.
 
Was enroute from Rocky Point, MX to Nogales, AZ. Disappeared from radar about 60 miles south of the border. Crashed in the desert with the pilot surviving, but injured...believe chute deployment was made. Pilot was able to make a phone call to Mazatlan ARTCC, but didn't know his location. Mexican aviation officials were able to launch a rescue helicopter to the last radar plot, and found the wreckage and pilot. Pilot medevac'd and wreckage left in place.

Good work to the Mexico aviation officials and Mazatlan/Albuquerque ARTCCs.
Was enroute from Rocky Point, MX to Nogales, AZ. Disappeared from radar about 60 miles south of the border. Crashed in the desert with the pilot surviving, but injured...believe chute deployment was made. Pilot was able to make a phone call to Mazatlan ARTCC, but didn't know his location. Mexican aviation officials were able to launch a rescue helicopter to the last radar plot, and found the wreckage and pilot. Pilot medevac'd and wreckage left in place.

Good work to the Mexico aviation officials and Mazatlan/Albuquerque ARTCCs.



Hello everyone! My name is Ivan Gutierrez I was rescued about 17 hours later thanks to a lot of people. I lost oil pressure and eventually all of my oil over the hills just 20 miles south of the border, I was trying to head to an airfield nearby but didn't make it. Lost the engine and with no viable place to land I used all the lift I had left to climb a couple hundred feet and pulled the chute I was low so I couldn't communicate directly with with Mazatlan center so I relayed info through a delta (I belive )all the way to the ground. I have him the coordinates off my gn430 which turned out to be off. After using the hammer and my hand to break the window and get out and noticed there's was no fire I came back pulled all the breakers and just left comm 1, audi panel and annunciators( to advice me of low voltage) to communicate with Tracy chipham a pilot of a commander who volunteered to over fly my coordinates and verify them. He said he couldn't see me so I pulled out my phone that had GPS still in but no signal and gave him those coordinates and they were perfect. I asked him to contact my family. I crashed at 17:00 ish And communicated with a few different aircraft to make sure they had the right coordinates and to see if anyone is coming. The sun went down and knew I had to wait for the next morning, with little hope because Mexican authorities don't have the resources America does. I used the parachute to cover the window and my self to keep the animals out and tore out the carpet for warmth. Apparently I took the only spot for miles in which even they were willing to land. Military was supposed to detain me for 72 hours. But thanks to my cousin who pulled in favors the governors helicopter and amazing pilot found a rough spot to land about 1 kilometer away. Apperantly I landed in the middle of cartel owned property and the Mexican military ( fearless those guys ) went in at 11:00 knowing they couldn't use cars or they would be spotted they walked all night looking for me. They knew it was too dangerous to keep going all night because of bulls snakes and pumas all over they continued search in the morning.

Just to clarify: I was alone, I pulled the chute because I had no other choice, my injuries came mainly to my back and neck but Very minimal. Please feel free to email me if you have any questions. Cfivan@icloud.com
 
Last edited by a moderator:
You're crazy, Ivan. Crazy Ivan, that's your new nickname. Glad you made it safely, all things considered. You should contact Apple "plane crash and stranded in the desert in cartel country? there's an app for that"
 
I gave him the coordinates off my gn430 which turned out to be off.

Your initial coords weren't necessarily off, as they were your position at that point in time. Likely just drift from that point on to your touchdown point, made for the slightly different coords you were eventually located at.

Additionally, ZAB had plot data on you that helped, in coordination with Mazatlan.
 
Back
Top