Crash of a Douglas DC-6B near Mendoza: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 19, 1971
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HI-146
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Mendoza - Santiago de Chile
MSN:
43270/187
YOM:
1951
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from Mendoza-El Plumerillo Airport, the crew reported technical problems and was cleared to return with the engine number one shut down. Shortly later, the airplane crashed on Mt Santa Elena located few km from the airport. All three crew members were killed. The aircraft was chartered to Aero Dominicana.

Crash of a Douglas DC-6B near Putre: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jun 17, 1971 at 1430 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CP-926
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Santa Cruz - Arica
MSN:
43043/83
YOM:
1947
Country:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The four engine airplane was completing a cargo flight from Santa Cruz to Arica, Chile. While cruising at an altitude of 18,000 feet under VFR mode, the crew encountered poor weather conditions when the airplane struck the slope of Mt Nevados de Putre located 12 km northeast of Putre. The wreckage was found few hours later. All six occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The crew was flying under VFR mode in IMC conditions. Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Douglas DC-6B in Málaga

Date & Time: Dec 20, 1970
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
OO-CTL
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
43832/364
YOM:
1953
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Málaga Airport, while on a cargo flight, the crew encountered technical problems and was cleared to return for a safe landing. On final, ATC confirmed to the pilot that the left main gear was not down. After touchdown, the airplane veered to the left and came to rest in a grassy area. While all seven crew members were uninjured, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The hydraulics failure was caused by an attachment securing the recovery spring cable to the lower end of the leg broke during retraction of the gear. The loose spring was caught between the hydraulic cylinder and other linkages, and the piston was pushed to one side of the cylinder, causing an escape of hydraulic fluid.

Crash of a Douglas DC-6B in Córdoba

Date & Time: Nov 16, 1970
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N6113C
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Antofagasta – Caldera – La Rioja – Asunción
MSN:
44113/433
YOM:
1953
Country:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a cargo flight from Antofagasta to Asunción with intermediate stops in Caldera and La Rioja. En route to Asunción, the crew informed ATC about technical problems and was cleared to divert to Córdoba Air Base. On final, the airplane crashed in flames in a prairie located near the district of Antigua, about 4 km southeast of the airfield. All four crew members escaped uninjured while the aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire.

Crash of a Douglas DC-6B in Kerkyra

Date & Time: Nov 5, 1970
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
SX-DAI
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Athens - Kerkyra
MSN:
45544/1026
YOM:
1958
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
62
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Upon landing at Kerkyra-Ioánnis Kapodístrias Airport runway 35, the nose gear collapsed. The airplane slid on runway then veered off runway to the left and came to rest 450 feet further. All 67 occupants were evacuated safely and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Failure of the nose gear upon landing.

Crash of a Douglas DC-6B in Asmara

Date & Time: Mar 12, 1970 at 1210 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
ET-AAY
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Addis Ababa - Asmara
MSN:
45524/994
YOM:
1958
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
19646
Circumstances:
After landing at Asmara-Yohannes IV Airport, the four engine aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran, lost its undercarriage and came to rest in flames. All four occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the crew failed to use the thrust reverser systems after touchdown.

Crash of a Douglas DC-6B in Nha Trang: 34 killed

Date & Time: Dec 22, 1969
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
B-2005
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Saigon - Nha Trang
MSN:
44694
YOM:
1955
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
70
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
34
Circumstances:
While approaching Nha Trang on a flight from Saigon, the pilot informed ATC about an explosion on board and that control was heavy. The hydraulic system failed so the undercarriage must be lowered manually. The captain decided to perform a low pass over the runway to check the landing gear with ATC. That made, the crew completed a nose high and flapless landing shortly later. After touchdown just over the threshold, the crew activated the reverse thrust systems when the airplane became airborne. So the throttles were closed and the aircraft landed again but too far down the runway. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, it overran, struck a concrete pylon and several obstacles before coming to rest in flames in a popular area. Ten passengers and 24 people on the ground were killed. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire.
Probable cause:
It was determined that a bomb placed in the front left lavatory exploded in flight, causing a 1,5 m hole in the fuselage and damaging the hydraulic lines.

Crash of a Douglas DC-6B on Mt Paneio: 90 killed

Date & Time: Dec 8, 1969 at 2046 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
SX-DAE
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Canea - Athens
MSN:
45540
YOM:
1958
Flight number:
OA954
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
85
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
90
Circumstances:
While descending to Athens-Hellinikon Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with heavy rain falls, thunderstorm activity and turbulences. An activ thunderstorm area was located south of the airport so the crew started an ILS approach but modified his track to the northeast over the region of Keratea. While flying at an altitude of 2,000 feet with its undercarriage retracted, the four engine aircraft passed over the city of Keratea then struck the slope of Mt Paneio located about 20 km southeast of Hellinikon Airport. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and none of 90 occupants survived.
Probable cause:
The pilots were unable to distinguish the mountain due to low visibility caused by night and poor weather conditions. While slightly off track on approach, the airplane struck a mountain slope and was destroyed. The accident is considered to be the consequence of a controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Douglas DC-6B on Mt Choquetanga: 74 killed

Date & Time: Sep 26, 1969 at 1510 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CP-698
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Santa Cruz - La Paz
MSN:
43273/191
YOM:
1951
Country:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
69
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
74
Circumstances:
While cruising at an altitude of 15,500 feet in marginal weather conditions, the airplane struck the slope of Mt Choquetanga and was totally destroyed upon impact. The wreckage was found three days later in an isolated area. All 74 occupants have been killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. However, it is believed it was the consequence of a controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Douglas DC-6 in Tuxtla Gutiérrez

Date & Time: Aug 20, 1969
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
XA-MOO
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
42877/18
YOM:
1947
Country:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on landing for unknown reason. There were no casualties.