Consolidated PBY Catalina

Operator:

Registration:

HK-133

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Bogotá – Medellín - Quibdó

MSN:

21998

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Pax on board:

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Circumstances:

The aircraft departed Santa Cecilia Airport, Bogotá at 0647LT bound for Medellín and Quibdó, carrying a crew of 5 and 11 passengers. Take-off was made at a time when the airport was closed due to poor visibility. While flying on instruments a few moments after take-off, the starboard engine failed. The aircraft continued its flight over the Sabana de Bogotá for approximately 23 minutes, following which, while flying on a magnetic heading of approximately 280 degrees, it crashed violently (at approximately 0705LT) against the Quetame Hill located near Cáqueza, about 30 km southeast of Bogotá, at an elevation of 9,170 feet. The flight engineer and one passenger were injured while 14 other occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

The probable cause of the accident was a complete failure of the starboard engine due to the breakdown of the lubricating system. The following factors were considered as contributing:
- Recklessness of the pilot in taking off from a closed airport while aware of the poor weather conditions prevailing throughout the Sabana, a circumstance which prevented returning to the airport of departure when complete breakdown of the starboard engine occurred,
- The 1,506 kg overload of the aircraft above the maximum gross operating weight for Bogotá according to the performance curves of the aircraft,
- The adverse weather conditions prevailing from the moment of take-off until the moment of the accident,
- An error of judgment on the part of the Operations and Maintenance Sections of the Company in failing to provide for a test flight of the aircraft after the turbine section had been changed and in finding aircraft HK-133 airworthy for the purpose of a scheduled flight with passengers under such conditions,
- The lack of competent air traffic and weather authorities at Santa Cecilia airport in a position to check civil aviation regulations and to prohibit take off from a closed airport,
- Faulty internal organization within AIDA which should have defined exactly the duties of the Maintenance Superintendent, of the Maintenance Chief and of the Dispatcher,
- The failure of the Company to have available a spare engine which would have avoided carrying out such delicate repair work in a hasty manner.

Final Report:

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina in Marabá: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 12, 1956

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

TICAL

Registration:

PT-ASN

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Belém – Marabá

MSN:

1792

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

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Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

On approach to Marabá, both engines failed. The crew elected to make an emergency landing when the seaplane crashed into the Río Tocantins. A crewman was killed while four other occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Double engine failure.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina in Parintins: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 18, 1956

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

PP-PDB

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Belém – Parintins

MSN:

22021

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

While landing on the Amazone River off Parintins, the seaplane hit a submerged object, came to a halt and partially sank. Nine occupants were rescued while three others were killed, among them the pilot Luís Anet and the radio operator.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina off Kyleake: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 22, 1955

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

CF-EPX

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Delivery

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Montreal – Godthab – Keflavik – Prestwick – Karachi

Location:

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Crew on board:

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Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was completing a flight from Montreal to Karachi, the aircraft being delivered to the Pakistan government. While approaching the Scottish coast, both engines failed. The captain attempted to ditch the aircraft off Kyleake. On touchdown, the seaplane lost its floats, drifted away and eventually sank. Five crew members were rescued while the navigator was killed.

Probable cause:

Double engine failure caused by a fuel exhaustion due to strong headwinds.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina off La Pedrera: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jan 31, 1955

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

HK-1000E

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Bogotá – Villavicencio – Mitú – La Pedrera

Location:

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Circumstances:

The aircraft was completing a cargo flight from Bogotá to La Pedrera with intermediate stop at Apiay AFB in Villavicencio and Mitú, carrying four passagers, four crew members, mail and various goods. While trying to land on the Río Caqueta near La Pedrera, the seaplane crashed into the river. All four passengers and a crew member were killed while three other occupants were killed.

Crash of a Consolidated C-10A Catalina in Belém: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 29, 1954 at 1737 LT

Type of aircraft: