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Crash of a Basler BT-67 near Pueblo Rico: 7 killed

Date & Time: Sep 2, 2000
Type of aircraft:
Basler BT-67
Operator:
Registration:
FAC-1659
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Apiay - Pereira
MSN:
16236/32984
YOM:
1945
Location:
Pueblo Rico
Risaralda
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The crew departed Apiay AFB on a flight to Pereira, carrying seven crew members who were taking part to a supply mission to ground troops fighting FARC soldiers who attacked communications relays. While cruising at an altitude of 11,200 feet in poor weather conditions, the aircraft struck the slope of Mt Montezuma located about 5 km northwest of Pueblo Rico. All seven occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a De Havilland RC-7B on Mt Patascoy de Santa Lucía: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jul 23, 1999 at 0330 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-7 (Dash-7)
Operator:
Registration:
N5382W
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Apiay - Apiay
MSN:
95
YOM:
1982
Location:
Mt Patascoy de Santa Lucía
Nariño
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The crew (five US citizens and two Colombians) departed Apiay AFB near Villavicencio at 0230LT on an anti-narcotic control flight over the southern part of Colombia and along the border with Ecuador. About an hour into the flight, while cruising at an altitude of 7,000 feet in limited visibility, the four engine aircraft struck the slope of Mt Patascoy de Santa Lucía (3,923 meters high) located about 35 km southeast of San Juan de Pasto. The wreckage was found five days later at an altitude of 2,100 metres. The aircraft was destroyed and all seven occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain due to navigational errors on part of the flying crew. The following contributing factors were identified:
- The crew input wrong settings in the Flight Management System, causing the aircraft to deviate from the initial prescribed route and to fly over a mountainous area,
- The crew was relatively inexperienced,
- Crew complacency,
- Lack of visibility due to the night,
- Lack of ground visual references,
- Crew fatigue due to an insufficient rest time.

Crash of a Cessna 421 Golden Eagle near Guasca

Date & Time: Jul 12, 1993 at 1145 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 421 Golden Eagle
Operator:
Registration:
FAC-5038
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Bogotá - Apiay
Location:
Guasca
Cundinamarca
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Bogotá Airport at 1124LT on a flight to Apiay AFB (Villavicencio), carrying four high ranking officers of the Colombian Army Forces and three crew members. About 20 minutes into the flight, while cruising at an altitude of 10,000 feet, the crew declared an emergency after one of the engine failed in flight. The crew reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft crashed near Guasca, about 35 km northeast of Bogotá-El Dorado Airport. The aircraft was destroyed and all seven occupants were injured.
Crew:
Cpt José Ortiz, pilot,
Jairo Guevara, copilot,
Henry Chaparro, engineer.
Passengers:
Gen Norberto Adrada Córdoba,
Gen Jorge Enrique Mora Rangel,
Maj Horacio Lema Galeano,
Lt Col Gustavo Plazas.
Probable cause:
Engine failure in flight for unknown reasons.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver in Usme: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 5, 1971 at 0830 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver
Operator:
Registration:
FAC-117
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Bogotá - Apiay
Location:
Bogotá-El Dorado
Bogotá Capital District
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Bogotá-El Dorado Airport, while in initial climb, the crew contacted ATC and declared an emergency. Control was lost and the airplane crashed near Usme, south of Bogotá. The aircraft was destroyed and both crew members were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47D near Caño La Raya: 35 killed

Date & Time: Sep 8, 1969 at 1400 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
FAC-685-A
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Bogotá – Villavicencio – Orocué – Trinidad – Paz de Ariporo – Tablón de Támara – El Yopal – Aguazul – Tauramena – Monterrey – Apiay
Flight number:
NSE742
Location:
Caño La Raya
Meta
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
32
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
35
Circumstances:
On the last leg of the trip NSE742 that originated from Bogotá, the crew started the descent when he encountered stormy weather (heavy rain falls, low clouds and turbulences). While approaching from the east, the airplane struck a rocky peak and crashed near Caño La Raya, some 55 km east of Apiay AFB. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 35 occupants were killed.
Crew:
Maj Eduardo Antonio Lozano,
Lt Tirso Hernando Martinez, copilot,
Aux Lupo Cieves.

Crash of a Douglas TB-26B Invader at Apiay AFB: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 4, 1968 at 0950 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-26 Invader
Operator:
Registration:
FAC-2515
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Apiay - Apiay
MSN:
7163
YOM:
1941
Location:
Apiay AFB (Villavicencio)
Meta
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
While performing a local training flight at Apiay AFB, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances, killing both pilots.

Crash of a Douglas B-26C Invader in La Victoria: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 7, 1967 at 2256 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-26 Invader
Operator:
Registration:
FAC-2511
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Barranquilla – Apiay
MSN:
27469
YOM:
1944
Location:
La Victoria
Valle del Cauca
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane left Barranquilla Airport at 2106LT on a flight to Apiay AFB, Villavicencio. While cruising by night at a low altitude, the airplane struck power cables and crashed in flames near La Victoria. All four crew members were killed.

Crash of a Douglas A-26 Invader at Apiay AFB

Date & Time: Dec 28, 1966 at 1130 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-26 Invader
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Apiay - Apiay
Location:
Apiay AFB (Villavicencio)
Meta
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While completing a local training flight, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed in flames in an open field located 4 km from Apiay AFB. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire and both pilots were injured.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 in Tauramena: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jul 2, 1963
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
FAC-678
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Apiay - Tauramena
Location:
Tauramena
Casanare
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
On approach to Tauramena, the crew encountered poor weather conditions when the airplane struck the ground and crashed few km from the destination. Three occupants were injured while six others were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 near Apiay AFB: 31 killed

Date & Time: Apr 6, 1962 at 1500 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
FAC-563
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Araracuara - Apiay
Location:
Apiay AFB (Villavicencio)
Meta
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
26
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
31
Circumstances:
The aircraft was completing a special flight from Araracuara to Apiay AFB, carrying convicts released on parole accompanied by prison guards. While approaching Apiay in marginal weather conditions at an altitude of 11,500 feet, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain and disintegrated on impact, killing all 31 occupants.
Probable cause:
It was determined the aircraft was off track by 10° at the time of the accident, probably due to strong winds. The lack of efficient navigation systems along the route was considered as a contributing factor, as well as the poor weather conditions.
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