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Crash of a Boeing 737-222 in Arequipa: 123 killed

Date & Time: Feb 29, 1996 at 2025 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
OB-1451
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Lima – Arequipa – Tacna
MSN:
19072
YOM:
1968
Flight number:
CF251
Country:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
117
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
123
Circumstances:
The approach to Arequipa-Rodríguez Ballón Airport was completed by night and poor weather conditions with heavy rain falls. On final approach, the crew failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the aircraft struck a hill and crashed 6,3 km from runway 09 threshold. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 123 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain. It was reported that during his last communication with ATC, the pilot reported his altitude at 9,500 feet while the real altitude of the aircraft was 8,644 feet. It is believed that the accident may have been caused by an altimeter misreading or a wrong altimeter setting. The lack of visibility was considered as a contributing factor.

Crash of a Piper PA-31T Cheyenne II on Mt Chachani: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jan 15, 1996 at 1405 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
OB-1403
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Yauri-Espinar - Arequipa
MSN:
31-772002
YOM:
1977
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
While descending to Arequipa-Alfredo Rodríguez Ballón Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions when the twin engine aircraft struck the slope of Mt Chachani located about 17 km north of the airport. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all five occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain after the crew initiated the descent prematurely for unknown reasons. Lack of visibility due to clouds was a contributing factor.

Crash of an Antonov AN-24RV in Arequipa

Date & Time: Feb 22, 1992
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
OB-1439
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Puerto Maldonado – Juliaca – Arequipa
MSN:
2 73 078 04
YOM:
1972
Country:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
41
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft landed too far down the runway at Arequipa-Alfredo Rodríguez Ballón Airport. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, it overran, rolled for about 160 metres then lost its undercarriage and came to rest, broken in two. All 45 occupants were rescued, among them 11 passengers were injured. The aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
Wrong approach configuration on part of the crew who continued the landing above the glide, causing the aircraft to land too far down the runway. The crew failed to initiate a go-around procedure.

Crash of a Fokker F28 Fellowship 1000 in Juliaca: 12 killed

Date & Time: Oct 25, 1988 at 1053 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
OB-R-1020
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Juliaca – Arequipa
MSN:
11059
YOM:
1972
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
65
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Aircraft flight hours:
35404
Aircraft flight cycles:
44078
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Juliaca-Inca Manco Capac Airport runway 29, the aircraft encountered difficulties to gain height. It passed over the runway end at low height when the crew raised the landing gear, retracted the flaps and retarded power. The aircraft failed to gain altitude and flew low for about 1,800 meters when it struck obstacles and crashed in a river bed about 2,5 km from the runway end. 12 occupants were killed while 57 others were injured. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact.
Probable cause:
Wrong takeoff configuration on part of the crew who failed to follow the published procedures. The aircraft adopted an excessive angle of attack after liftoff and subsequently entered an aerodynamic stall.

Crash of a Douglas C-47E in Arequipa: 5 killed

Date & Time: Mar 18, 1983
Operator:
Registration:
FAP356
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
MSN:
20009
YOM:
1944
Country:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
While approaching Arequipa-Alfredo Rodríguez Ballón Airport, the crew encountered limited visibility due to poor weather conditions. Too low, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain and crashed, killing all five occupants.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 near Huilyo: 16 killed

Date & Time: Jan 20, 1951
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Lima – Arequipa
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
13
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
16
Circumstances:
On a flight from Lima to Arequipa, the twin engine aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located near the village of Huilyo, in the province of Cuzco. The wreckage was found few days later and all 16 occupants have been killed.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3A-399 in Cháparra: 14 killed

Date & Time: Jan 22, 1943 at 1515 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NC33645
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Santiago de Chile – Arequipa – Lima
MSN:
4124
YOM:
1941
Flight number:
PAG009
Country:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
14
Captain / Total flying hours:
1437
Captain / Total hours on type:
1151.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
722
Copilot / Total hours on type:
280
Aircraft flight hours:
3179
Circumstances:
Fifty-five minutes after its departure from Arequipa Airport, while cruising at an altitude of 13,000 feet in marginal weather conditions, the aircraft hit the side of a mountain located near Cháparra. Extensive emergency resources were dispatched to the scene where a seriously injured passenger was evacuated while fourteen other occupants were killed.
Crew:
Gordon W. Gardner, pilot,
Robert W. Turbyne, copilot,
James T. Ewing, radio operator,
Jorge Alvarez, purser.
Probable cause:
Action of the pilot in continuing the flight on instruments in the overcast, contrary to company flight procedure of which, according to the evidence, the pilot was aware. Investigations also highlighted some shortcomings by the company, whose lack of control of its operation remains a contributing factor.
Final Report:

Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3mge on Mt Chilligua: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jun 26, 1938
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
OA-HHB
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Arequipa – La Paz – Santa Cruz
MSN:
5043
YOM:
1934
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
En route from Arequipa to La Paz, the crew encountered poor weather conditions when the airplane impacted the slope of Mt Chilligua located 130 km south of Puno. The aircraft named 'Misti' was destroyed and all seven occupants were killed.