Zone
Arauca

Crash of a Cessna 402B in Arauca: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 16, 1991 at 0600 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 402
Operator:
Registration:
HK-2172
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Arauca – Saravena
MSN:
402B-1371
YOM:
1978
Location:
Arauca-Santiago Pérez Quiroz
Arauca
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Arauca-Santiago Pérez Quiroz Airport, while in initial climb, one of the engine failed. The crew attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft struck a pole and crashed. A pilot was killed and four other occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
Engine failure during initial climb for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Douglas C-118A near Bogotá

Date & Time: Feb 10, 1991 at 1140 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-118 Liftmaster
Operator:
Registration:
HK-1702
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Bogotá – Arauca
MSN:
44670
YOM:
1955
Location:
Bogotá-El Dorado
Bogotá Capital District
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
80
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft was chartered by the Colombian Army to transfer 80 soldiers from Bogotá to Arauca. They were seating on the cabin floor with their equipment. In the morning, the crew encountered technical problems after takeoff from Bogotá Airport and was forced to return. After repairs were completed, the aircraft departed again before noon. During initial climb, the engine n°1 caught fire. The crew declared an emergency and was cleared to return when the fire spread to the engine n°2. The captain realized he could not reach the airport so he attempted an emergency landing in a pasture located 16 km from the airfield. The aircraft belly landed and slid for about 400 meters before coming to rest, bursting into flames. All 85 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
Failure and explosion of engine n°1 for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Pilatus PC-6/B2-H2 Turbo Porter near Potosí: 11 killed

Date & Time: Apr 19, 1989 at 1134 LT
Type of aircraft:
Pilatus PC-6 (Porter & Turbo Porter)
Operator:
Registration:
FAC-1110
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Cúcuta – Arauca
MSN:
818
YOM:
1983
Location:
Potosí
Táchira
Country:
Venezuela
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
The single engine aircraft departed Cúcuta-Camilo Daza Airport at 1106LT and proceeded to the east. While cruising at an insufficient altitude, it struck the slope of a mountain located in the region of Potosí, Venezuela. The wreckage was found six days later, on April 25. All 11 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the pilot was inexperienced and failed to follow the minimum prescribed altitude for the area.

Crash of a Sud-Aviation SE-210 Caravelle 11R in Arauca

Date & Time: Nov 27, 1986
Type of aircraft:
Sud-Aviation SE-210 Caravelle
Operator:
Registration:
HK-2850
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Arauca – Bogotá
MSN:
261
YOM:
1972
Location:
Arauca-Santiago Pérez Quiroz
Arauca
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll at Arauca-Santiago Pérez Quiroz Airport, the crew encountered technical problems with the elevators that seemed to be 'jammed'. The takeoff procedure was abandoned and the crew initiated an emergency braking maneuver. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overran and struck a drainage ditch. The undercarriage collapsed and the aircraft came to rest on its belly. All four crew members escaped uninjured.

Crash of a Douglas C-54D-10-DC Skymaster on Mt Toledo: 21 killed

Date & Time: Dec 18, 1979
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
FAC-1106
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Arauca - Cúcuta
MSN:
10853
YOM:
1945
Location:
Mt Toledo
Norte de Santander
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
21
Circumstances:
The four engine airplane was descending to Cúcuta-Camilo Daza Airport in limited visibility when, at an altitude of 3,400 meters, it struck the slope of Mt Toledo located about 35 km south from Cúcuta. The airplane was destroyed and all 21 occupants were killed, among them civilians.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-65-Dl near Rubio: 28 killed

Date & Time: Nov 21, 1978
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
HK-1393
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Cúcuta - Arauca
MSN:
19053
YOM:
1943
Location:
Rubio
Táchira
Country:
Venezuela
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
25
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
28
Circumstances:
While cruising at an altitude of 11,200 feet in marginal weather conditions, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located about 30 km south of Rubio, in the Judio Mountain Range. The wreckage was found few hours later and all 28 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
For unknown reasons, the airplane was not following the correct route as mentioned on the flight plan and its altitude was insufficient. Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver in Arauca

Date & Time: Jun 28, 1976
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver
Operator:
Alas Colombia
Registration:
HK-84
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Demonstration
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Arauca - Arauca
MSN:
61
YOM:
1949
Location:
Arauca-Santiago Pérez Quiroz
Arauca
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local demo flight at Arauca-Santiago Pérez Quiroz Airport. While flying at low height, the single engine airplane went out of control and crashed by the runway. Both occupants were injured.

Crash of a Douglas DC-4 in Arauca

Date & Time: Jul 16, 1975
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-4
Operator:
Registration:
HK-654
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
18391
YOM:
1944
Location:
Arauca-Santiago Pérez Quiroz
Arauca
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After touchdown at Arauca-Santiago Pérez Quiroz Airport, the nose gear collapsed. The airplane slid on its nose for dozen meters before coming to rest. All eight occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Failure of the nose gear for unknown reason.

Crash of a Handley Page HPR-7 Dart Herald 101 in Villavicencio: 6 killed

Date & Time: Nov 2, 1973
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page HPR-7 Dart Herald
Operator:
Registration:
HK-718
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Paz de Ariporo – Tame – Arauca – Cúcuta
MSN:
150
YOM:
1961
Location:
Villavicencio
Meta
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
When landing at Arauca (AUC) after a flight from Paz de Ariporo (PZA) and Tame (TME) a loss of hydraulic fluid was noted on the left main gear hydraulic system. A split hose was changed before the aircraft left for a flight to Cúcuta. Some 5 minutes after takeoff a burning smell and smoke were noticed in the cockpit. It appeared then that the undercarriage was still extended, though the undercarriage indicators in the cockpit didn't show this. The crew elected to divert to Villavicencio and made two low runs over the field to obtain instructions from the chief of maintenance and the airline's instructor. While on final approach to runway 22 the pilot was told by the instructor on the ground to feather the no. 1 engine as a precautionary measure. After passing the threshold at low altitude, power was reapplied and the aircraft turned slowly to the left, lost altitude and crashed in flames.
Source: ASN

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-50-CU Commando in Cúcuta: 4 killed

Date & Time: Oct 4, 1965 at 1105 LT
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
SEA Colombia - Servicios Especiales Aéreos Colombia
Registration:
HK-613
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Cúcuta – Arauca
MSN:
30465
YOM:
1944
Location:
Cúcuta
Norte de Santander
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The flight was a non-scheduled domestic cargo flight. After boarding 162 crates of beer and one passenger at Cúcuta the crew requested clearance to takeoff for Arauca at 10:42. Clearance was given by the control tower for runway 20 with a south-southeast wind at 18 kt. The aircraft used more than 3/4 of the runway for takeoff and initiated a turn over the city, returning over the aerodrome to gain height. At 10:58 hours it reported departure to the southeast, climbing in visual meteorological conditions to 7500 ft and estimating Santo Domingo at 11:13. When the aircraft was at approximately 4500 to 5000 ft, flames were seen coming from the no. 2 engine. The aircraft attempted to return to Cúcuta. On its way back the starboard wing and engine were seen tearing off from the aircraft. The rest of the aircraft immediately started to roll slowly to the left and moments later struck the ground on Cerro del Espinazo. All four occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was attributed to a maintenance error consisting of inadequate service and inspection of part of, or systems of the starboard engine, giving rise to a fire in an undetermined part of the accessories section of that engine. A contributing factor was a maintenance error consisting of failure to comply with Technical Directive No. 62-10-2 (Aerocivil C-46-39).
Final Report:
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