Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-10-CU Commando in Bogotá: 37 killed

Date & Time: Apr 19, 1960 at 1908 LT
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
HK-390
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Miami – Barranquilla – Medellín – Bogotá
MSN:
32954
YOM:
1944
Flight number:
LL503
Location:
Bogotá-El Dorado
Bogotá Capital District
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
44
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
37
Aircraft flight hours:
8289
Circumstances:
While on final approach to El Dorado Airport in Bogotá, the airplane stalled and crashed few km short of runway 12. Fourteen people were evacuated while 37 others, among them six crew members, were killed.
Probable cause:
The pilot failed to take proper action to counteract the loss of speed and height in the final approach turn. The following factors contributed to the accident:
- Lack of operational control by the airlines concerned,
- The pilot in command lacked experience as a transport pilot,
- It is probable that the report from the control tower at Eldorado that the runway was restricted because another aircraft had crashed in the safety zone had a psychological effect on the pilot.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A Commando in Miami

Date & Time: Apr 14, 1960
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
CU-C644
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Miami – Havana
Location:
Miami-Intl
Florida
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Just after liftoff, while in initial climb, the airplane stalled and belly landed. It skidded for dozen yards before coming to rest. All four occupants were injured and the aircraft was written off.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-40-CU Commando in Siuna: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 5, 1960 at 1439 LT
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
AN-AIN
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Siuna – Bonanza
MSN:
26945
YOM:
1944
Location:
Siuna
Región Autónoma del Atlántico Norte
Country:
Nicaragua
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Aircraft flight hours:
5650
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff, while climbing, the airplane stalled and crashed in flames in a wooded area located 2,400 meters past the runway end. A crew member and a passenger were killed while 16 other occupants were injured. The airplane was totally destroyed by a post crash fire.
Probable cause:
During the investigation, when the port propeller was being dismantled it was discovered that the distributor valve was broken from the base of the junction with the engine crankshaft, the first threads having broken. The break appeared to be due to fatigue. From the evidence, the rupture of the distributor valve of the port propeller appears to have been the main cause of the accident, additional factors being unfavorable terrain, wind and altitude conditions.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-60-CK Commando in Pelly Bay

Date & Time: Mar 25, 1960
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
CF-IHQ
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
448
YOM:
1945
Location:
Pelly Bay
Nunavut
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On approach to Pelly Bay, the airplane was too low and struck the ground few hundred yards short of runway. Both pilots were seriously injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The pilot failed to maintain sufficient altitude and the aircraft struck the ground while on the downwind leg of a circuit to land.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-60-CS Commando near Planeta Rica: 25 killed

Date & Time: Mar 19, 1960 at 1610 LT
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
HK-516
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
San Andrés – Medellín
MSN:
00384
YOM:
1945
Flight number:
MM901
Location:
Planeta Rica
Córdoba
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
42
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
25
Aircraft flight hours:
15876
Circumstances:
En route from San Andrés Island to Medellín, while cruising in bad weather conditions, the pilot informed ATC about technical problems on the left engine and elected to divert to Planeta Rica. On approach, the aircraft struck the slope of Mt Los Mellos located about 11 km from the airfield. Three crew members and 22 passengers were killed while 21 other occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
The accident was attributed to an error of judgement in that the pilot decided to land at an airport which was closed and where no radio aid was available at the time when he was in visual flight at an adequate altitude and close to several airports offering good characteristics and suitable weather conditions. In addition, the pilot underestimated the malfunction that at the time had developed in the left engine. The following contributing factors intervened:
- Malfunction in the carburetor of the left engine resulting in intermittent overspeeding and slight coughing,
- Adverse weather conditions (namely thick mist, rain, hail and electric storm) which prevailed in the area and in the vicinity of Planeta Rica Airport at the time of the accident,
- The lack of communications which prevented the pilot from being briefed on the weather conditions at Planeta Rica Airport and from being informed of the absence of tower or radio facility services owing to the time-table in force at the airport.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-30-CU Commando at McGuire AFB

Date & Time: Feb 13, 1960
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Associated Air Transport
Registration:
N46Q
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Louisville – McGuire
MSN:
26684
YOM:
1943
Location:
McGuire AFB (Fort Dix)
New Jersey
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
54
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The Curtiss was being used for a civil air movement of military personnel from Louisville to McGuire AFB. En route, in the Elkins-Charleston area light to moderate icing occurred. This required the use of wing deicers and propeller anti-icers. Shortly after passing Baltimore the same weather conditions were encountered which required a power setting of 2400 rpm and 38" manifold pressure. The plane lost altitude, which forced the crew to apply METO power setting of 2600 rpm and 45" manifold pressure. During the final (GCA) approach to McGuire AFB the plane stalled and crash-landed 1200 feet short of the runway threshold. Both engines were sheared off on impact.
Probable cause:
Crew failed to maintain an accurate log of the flight as pertains to flight planning/fuel consumption/fuel requirements.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46 Commando in Port Hardy

Date & Time: Jan 29, 1960 at 1758 LT
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
CF-PWD
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Port Hardy – Comox
MSN:
2940
YOM:
1945
Flight number:
PW104
Location:
Port Hardy
British Columbia
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
48
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Few minutes after his departure from Port Hardy, the pilot informed ATC that the right engine failed and obtained the permission to return for a safe landing. To avoid any stall, the left engine power was increased to its maximum and the crew continued the descent in marginal weather conditions. The airplane landed at high speed and was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overran and eventually crashed against trees in a swampy area. All 51 occupants were evacuated while the aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
The right engine failed because of a fatigue fracture of the reduction drive ring gear necessitating feathering of the propeller. Due to the presence of a fog bank, a steep approach was necessary with result that the landing was made at a higher than normal airspeed which, coupled with reduced braking action on the wet runway, caused the aircraft to overrun the landing area.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-15-CU Commando in Dianopólis

Date & Time: Jan 4, 1960
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Transportes Aéreos Salvador
Registration:
PP-SLJ
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
26535
YOM:
1943
Location:
Dianopólis
Tocantins
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll, the aircraft went out of control, veered off runway and came to a halt. There were no injuries but the aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
Loss of control caused by the bad condition of the runway surface.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-40-CU Commando into the Caribbean Sea: 45 killed

Date & Time: Dec 8, 1959 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
HK-515
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
San Andrés – Cartagena – Medellín
MSN:
26941
YOM:
1944
Location:
Caribbean Sea
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
42
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
45
Circumstances:
Twenty minutes after his departure from San Andrés Island, while cruising at an altitude of 9,500 feet, the captain informed ATC about his position vertical to PC-2 beacon in good weather conditions. This was the last radio transmission. SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended three days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the 45 occupants was found. Eight days later, some equipment of the right main gear were found on a beach of the Moron Island in Panama.
Probable cause:
Due to the lack of evidence, investigations were unable to determine the exact cause of the accident.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-36-CU Commando at Dyess AFB: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 2, 1959 at 1716 LT
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
N5140B
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Carswell - Dyess
MSN:
26809
YOM:
1944
Flight number:
AAX7002
Location:
Dyess AFB
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
7294
Captain / Total hours on type:
3656.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
4839
Copilot / Total hours on type:
287
Circumstances:
The aircraft crashed on runway 16 at Dyess AFB, Abilene, Texas. The crash occurred while the pilots were attempting to land the aircraft with the elevator controls inoperative. The captain and copilot, the only persons aboard, were killed. The aircraft was demolished. Examination of the longitudinal control system of the aircraft disclosed that the aft end of the aft link assembly was disconnected from the clevis in the elevator control horn assembly. This condition would render the elevator control inoperative. From irrefutable physical evidence the Board concludes that the bolt which normally secures the link assembly-clevis attachment was not in place at impact. It concludes that the bolt worked out following departure from Dyess AFB, resulting in the loss of control which caused the accident. The Board further concludes that the bolt worked out because it was improperly secured, a condition which should have been detected during a No. 2 maintenance inspection completed just prior to the origination of Trip 7002. The inspection was performed by Associated Airmotive., Inc., a certificated repair station which performed under contract the maintenance work for AAXICO.
Probable cause:
The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was loss of elevator control because of an improperly secured bolt, a condition which was undetected because of an inadequate inspection.
Final Report:
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