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NTSB Releases Preliminary Report on Mexican Navy Medical Flight Crash in Galveston Bay

The initial findings focus on degraded visibility during the approach.

Overview

  • The NTSB issued a preliminary factual report and said the probable cause will be determined later.
  • Six were killed and two seriously injured on the Mexican Navy Beechcraft B300 flying a humanitarian medical mission from Mérida to Galveston.
  • Weather data cited heavy fog with about one‑quarter‑mile visibility and vertical visibility near 200 feet during the approach.
  • Communications reflected confusion, including an altitude readback of “two three thousand” and a mistaken belief the flight was cleared to land rather than to fly the RNAV 14 approach.
  • Radar showed a U‑turn over the bay and a descent to 275 feet about three miles from the airport, and witnesses reported power changes consistent with an attempted go‑around before impact in 5–10 feet of water about a half‑mile offshore.