Crash of a Douglas C-47 on Mt San Vicente: 5 killed

Date & Time: Feb 21, 1978
Operator:
Registration:
FAC-668
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Cimitarra – Bucaramanga
Country:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was returning to Bucaramanga-Palonegro Airport after military personnel have been dropped off in Cimitarra for the upcoming elections. En route, the airplane struck the slope of Mt San Vicente located in the Cordillera de los Cobardes (Serranía Los Cobardes). The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and all five occupants were killed.
Crew:
Cpt José Francisco López Rodriguez, pilot,
Lt Hernán Bravo Bustamante, copilot,
Fernando Hincapié Gómez, technician,
Euledonio Roa Bautista, technician,
Luis Gerardo Maffia Benavides, technician.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-75-DL in Artigas: 44 killed

Date & Time: Feb 10, 1978 at 1120 LT
Operator:
Registration:
T-511
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Artigas - Montevideo
MSN:
19301
YOM:
1943
Flight number:
Uruguay 511
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
40
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
44
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Artigas, while on a flight to Montevideo with 40 civilian passengers on board, the pilot contacted ATC and reported engine problems. He was cleared to complete a turn to join the approach path when the airplane stalled and crashed in flames. All 44 occupants were killed. The exact cause of the engine problem remains unknown. The airplane had dual military (T-511) and civil (CX-BJH) registrations.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-30-DK in Bogotá

Date & Time: Nov 20, 1977
Operator:
Registration:
FAC-1127
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
MSN:
16290/33038
YOM:
1945
Country:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances. Crew fate unknown.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL near Manidar: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 23, 1977
Operator:
Registration:
C-FSAW
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
MSN:
4644
YOM:
1942
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a geo-survey mission, searching for uranium. While cruising in a valley, the crew encountered limited visibility with low clouds when, facing a mountain, the pilot-in-command made a 180 turn. The aircraft struck the mountain and crashed. The airplane was destroyed and all three occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-85-DL near Villavicencio

Date & Time: Oct 2, 1977
Operator:
Registration:
N98H
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
20061
YOM:
1944
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a drug smuggling flight when he was forced down by Colombian Air Force. The aircraft crash landed near Villavicencio. Both pilots were arrested and the airplane was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Forced down by Colombian Air Force during an illegal flight.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-25-DK in Santa Elena: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 30, 1977
Operator:
Registration:
TG-AKA
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
13327
YOM:
1944
Country:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
After touchdown on a gravel runway, the left tire burst. Control was lost and the airplane veered off runway to the left. The left engine struck the ground, causing a propeller blade to detach and to struck the cockpit. The airplane rolled for few meters then came to a halt. Three occupants escaped with minor injuries while the captain was killed after being struck by the propeller blade.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Narsarsuaq

Date & Time: Sep 21, 1977
Registration:
N723A
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
4395
YOM:
1942
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The right main gear failed upon landing. The airplane veered to the left and came to rest. Both occupants were uninjured and the aircraft was not repaired.

Explosion of a Douglas C-47A-25-DK in Massawa

Date & Time: Aug 14, 1977
Operator:
Registration:
ET-AAP
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Massawa - Teseney
MSN:
13181
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
36541
Circumstances:
The crew was taxiing at Massawa Airport and was approaching the end of the runway for departure when the tail wheel rolled over a landmine. The airplane exploded and was almost cut in two. A fire erupted and while four occupants were able to evacuate the cabin, the copilot was forced to jump out of the cockpit through his window. Falling down on the ground, he broke a foot. The airplane was destroyed. There were on board three crew members and two passengers, a security officer and a loadmaster.
Probable cause:
Exploded after rolling on a landmine.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Yoro: 25 killed

Date & Time: Jul 25, 1977 at 0800 LT
Operator:
Registration:
301
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Yoro - Tegucigalpa
MSN:
6096
YOM:
1942
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
36
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
25
Circumstances:
During initial climb, the left engine failed and caught fire. Control was lost and the airplane crashed in a mountainous terrain located few km from the airport. 25 occupants were killed while 15 others were injured. All passengers were employees of local companies travelling with family members.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left engine during initial climb.