Crash of a Convair CV-580 in Espinal

Date & Time: Apr 8, 1995 at 1630 LT
Type of aircraft:
Convair CV-580
Operator:
SEC Colombia - Servicio Especializado de Carga Aérea
Registration:
HK-3675
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Ferry
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Espinal - Bogotá
MSN:
214
YOM:
1954
Location:
Espinal
Tolima
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
242
Captain / Total hours on type:
50.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
208
Copilot / Total hours on type:
8
Aircraft flight hours:
28843
Aircraft flight cycles:
8030
Circumstances:
The aircraft had been stolen in December 1992 and was later found abandoned at Espinal Airfield. SEC Colombia bought it and completed an in-site C1 check before transferring it to Bogotá-El Dorado Airport. While taking off from runway 26 ( gravel strip of 1,010 metres long), the aircraft deviated to the left and failed to lift off. It overran, crossed a road and came to rest 275 metres further, bursting into flames. All four crew members were able to escape and were uninjured while the aircraft was destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the gravel runway 26 at Espinal Airfield was inappropriate for such type of aircraft. The runway was certified for agricultural aircraft with a maximum takeoff weight of 4,400 pounds while the Convair's takeoff weight was 38,888 pounds. The probable cause of this accident was the decision of the crew to take off from a runway unfit for this flight, finding a lack of performance on the soft surface, which prevented it to reach the VMCA, V1, VR, V2 speeds. The authorization by the company SEC to carry out a takeoff from a runway unfit for the flight was considered as a contributing factor.

Crash of a Douglas DC-9-14 in María La Baja: 51 killed

Date & Time: Jan 11, 1995 at 1938 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-9
Operator:
Registration:
HK-3839X
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Bogotá – Cartagena – San Andres – Panama City – Cali – Bogotá
MSN:
45742/26
YOM:
1966
Flight number:
RS256
Location:
María La Baja
Bolívar
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
47
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
51
Captain / Total flying hours:
10924
Captain / Total hours on type:
4605.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
4229
Copilot / Total hours on type:
3952
Aircraft flight hours:
65084
Aircraft flight cycles:
69716
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Bogotá-El Dorado Airport at 1843LT with a delay of six hours because of technical problems with the electrical systems. At 1934LT, after being cleared to start the descent to Cartagena-Rafael Núñez Airport, the crew descended from FL190 to FL080 when radar contact was lost. Four minutes later, the pilot of a Cessna 208 operated by Aerocorales informed ARTCC about a plane descending vertically and crashing in a marshy field located near María La Baja. The wreckage was found about 40 km southeast of Cartagena Airport. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and among the debris, a nine year old girl was found alive, all 51 other occupants have been killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the loss of control occurred after the pilot-in-command suffered a loss of situational awareness. Contributing to the loss of Vertical Situational Awareness, was the failure of the altimeter Number one during the descent, the lack of light in the altimeter Number two, the ineffectiveness of the Altitude Alert due to the failure of the altimeter Number one, the lack of radar service in the area, the complacency of the command crew because of good weather conditions, flight training that may not have been authorized by the company, the failure of the ground proximity warning system (GPWS), or lack of crew reaction time to respond to this alarm.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 650 Citation VI near Bogotá: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 23, 1994
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 650 Citation VI
Operator:
Orion Aero Taxi
Registration:
PT-OMV
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Manaus - Bogotá
MSN:
650-0200
YOM:
1991
Location:
Bogotá
Bogotá Capital District
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew initiated the descent to Bogotá-El Dorado Airport in limited visibility when the aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located about 40 km northwest of Bogotá. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all four occupants were killed.

Crash of a Sud-Aviation SE-210 Caravelle 10B3 in Bogotá

Date & Time: Mar 15, 1994
Type of aircraft:
Sud-Aviation SE-210 Caravelle
Operator:
SEC Colombia - Servicio Especializado de Carga Aérea
Registration:
HK-3855
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Bogotá - San Andrés
MSN:
265
YOM:
1969
Location:
Bogotá-El Dorado
Bogotá Capital District
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft was engaged in a cargo flight from Bogotá to San Andrés Island, carrying six passengers, three crew members and a load of 70 boxes of dynamite on behalf of the Ministry of Defense. During the takeoff roll, after V1 speed, one of the tyre burst. The captain continued and completed the rotation. During initial climb, he informed ATC about the situation and followed a holding circuit for about two hours to burn fuel. Following an unstable approach, the aircraft landed too far down the runway. As the captain realized he could not stop the aircraft within the remaining distance, he decided to retract the undercarriage. The aircraft slid on its belly, overran, went through a fence and eventually came to rest in a ravine located 100 metres further. All nine occupants escaped uninjured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. Fortunately, the dynamite did not explode.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A Commando in Puerto Inírida

Date & Time: Jan 30, 1994
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
HK-1856
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Bogotá - Puerto Inírida
MSN:
369
YOM:
1945
Location:
Puerto Inírida
Guainía
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Upon landing at Puerto Inírida Airport, the undercarriage collapsed. The aircraft came to rest in its belly and was damaged beyond repair. All three crew members escaped uninjured.
Probable cause:
Following heavy rain falls, the runway surface became soft and the aircraft 'sank' upon landing.

Crash of a Cessna 404 Titan II in Bogotá: 13 killed

Date & Time: Jul 24, 1993 at 1340 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 404 Titan
Operator:
Registration:
HK-3001G
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Government
Survivors:
No
Site:
City
Schedule:
Bogotá - Cali
Location:
Bogotá-El Dorado
Bogotá Capital District
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Bogotá-El Dorado Airport, while climbing, the crew informed ATC about the failure of the left engine and was cleared to return for an emergency landing. While turning to the left, the aircraft stalled and crashed on a building housing a car dealership. All seven occupants on board the Cessna as well as six people on the ground were killed, among them the Director and the Deputy Director of the Civil Aviation Authority of Colombia. Seven other people on the ground were injured.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left engine during initial climb for unknown reasons. The aircraft then stall due to insufficient speed.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 in Yopal: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 6, 1993 at 1330 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter
Operator:
Registration:
HK-2759
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Bogotá - Yopal
MSN:
771
YOM:
1981
Location:
Yopal
Casanare
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a cargo flight from Bogotá-El Dorado Airport to Yopal. On final approach in good weather conditions, the crew failed to realize his altitude was too low when the aircraft struck the slope of a mountain (900 metres high) located 5 km short of runway. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and both pilots were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the mountain was shrouded in light mist and the crew was approaching Yopal Airport below the minimum prescribed altitude for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Convair CV-440-11 Metropolitan in Bogotá: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 20, 1993
Type of aircraft:
Convair CV-440 Metropolitan
Operator:
Registration:
HP-1200CTH
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Bogotá – Panama City
MSN:
413
YOM:
1957
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:
After takeoff from Bogotá-El Dorado Airport, while climbing, the crew declared an emergency and informed ATC about an engine failure. The crew was cleared to return when the aircraft lost height and crashed in a field located 3 km west of the airport. Both pilots were killed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46F-1-CU Commando near Bogotá: 8 killed

Date & Time: Dec 11, 1991 at 1520 LT
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
HK-2716
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Ferry
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Medellín – Bogotá
MSN:
22478
YOM:
1945
Location:
Bogotá-El Dorado
Bogotá Capital District
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft was ferried from Medellín to Bogotá after repairs were conducted at Medellín Airport following a gear problems last September 23. On approach to Bogotá-El Dorado Airport, the aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located 20 km north of the airport. All eight occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
For unknown reasons, the crew was approaching the airport at an insufficient altitude. Lack of visibility due to clouds was a contributing factor.

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

Date & Time: Sep 29, 1991
Type of aircraft:
Sud-Aviation SE-210 Caravelle
Operator:
Registration:
HK-3288X
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
219
YOM:
1967
Location:
Bogotá-El Dorado
Bogotá Capital District
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll at Bogotá-El Dorado Airport, the left main gear failed. The aircraft slid on its belly for few dozen metres when the right main gear collapsed as well. The aircraft came to rest on the runway and was damaged beyond repair. All three crew members escaped uninjured.
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