Crash of a Douglas DC-118A Liftmaster in Bogotá: 8 killed

Date & Time: Apr 29, 1978 at 1603 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HK-1705
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bogotá - Barranquilla
MSN:
43565
YOM:
1952
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Bogotá-El Dorado runway 30, the four engine airplane encountered difficulties to gain height. It struck an eucalyptus then stalled and crashed in a pasture located about one km from the airfield. Four occupants were injured while eight others were killed.
Probable cause:
It is believed that one of the four engine exploded during initial climb for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-20-CU Commando in Bogotá

Date & Time: Jun 21, 1977 at 0830 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
HK-75
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bogotá - Tame
MSN:
22275
YOM:
1945
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff, the left engine caught fire and failed. The airplane lost speed and height then crashed in flames near the runway end. all three occupants were evacuated while the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Left engine fire on takeoff for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3A-438 in Saliente del Rio Guape: 35 killed

Date & Time: Apr 10, 1977
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HK-556
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Uribe - Bogotá
MSN:
4958
YOM:
1942
Country:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
31
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
35
Circumstances:
En route from Uribe to Bogotá-El Dorado Airport, while cruising by night, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located in the region of Saliente del Rio Guape. As the aircraft failed to arrive at Bogotá, SAR operations were initiated but eventually suspend few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the 35 occupants was found. The wreckage was found 35 days later on the slope of Mt Guape, at an altitude of 2,200 meters. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and all 35 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
For unknown reasons, the airplane was not following the proper track to Bogotá. Lack of visibility was considered as a contributing factor.

Crash of a Boeing 720-047B in Mexico City

Date & Time: Aug 16, 1976
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HK-723
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bogotá - Mexico City
MSN:
18061/197
YOM:
1961
Country:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
121
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the last segment on final approach to Mexico City-Benito Juarez Airport, while passing over the runway threshold, the four engine airplane entered an area of heavy rain falls. The pilot-in-command apparently lost visual contact with the runway and decided to initiate a go-around manoeuvre when the airplane stalled, nosed down and struck the runway surface nose gear first. Upon impact, the nose gear was torn off and the airplane slid for several metres before coming to rest. All 127 occupants were evacuated safely.

Crash of a Boeing 720-022 in Barranquilla

Date & Time: Apr 22, 1976
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N37777
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bogotá – Barranquilla – Miami
MSN:
18044/178
YOM:
1960
Country:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane was completing a cargo flight from Bogotá to Miami with an intermediate stop in Barranquilla, carrying four crew members and a load of 19 tons of flowers. On approach to Barranquilla-Soledad Airport, the crew encountered poor visibility and the captain requested ATC to increase the intensity of the runway lights. Shortly later, while too low, the airplane struck obstacles and crashed in flames short of runway 04. All four occupants were slightly injured while the aircraft was destroyed. For unknown reason, the crew was approaching below the glide.

Crash of a Douglas C-54A-5-DC Skymaster near Chipaque: 13 killed

Date & Time: Jan 15, 1976 at 0700 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HK-172
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Bogotá - La Macarena
MSN:
10280
YOM:
1944
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Circumstances:
While flying in clouds, the four engine airplane struck the slope of a mountain (3,540 metres high) located about 30 km east of Chipaque, in an area located in the west part of Meta. The wreckage was 800 metres below the point of impact, in a canyon. All 13 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Boeing 727-24C in Barranquilla: 4 killed

Date & Time: Sep 30, 1975
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HK-1272
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Bogotá - Barranquilla - Miami
MSN:
19525
YOM:
1967
Country:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
On approach to Barranquilla-Soledad Airport, the crew encountered poor visibility due to foggy conditions. Unable to locate the runway in below weather minima, the captain decided to make a go-around. Few minutes later, while on a second attempt to land, the crew failed to realize his altitude was too low when the airplane struck tree tops 1,000 meters short of runway 04 threshold. The aircraft lost height and crashed in flames 300 meters short of runway. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all four occupants have been killed.
Probable cause:
The crew continued the approach below MDA after passing the decision height in below weather minimums.

Ground accident of a Douglas DC-6F in Bogotá

Date & Time: Jul 10, 1975
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HK-756
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
43117
YOM:
1948
Country:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Destroyed by fire at Bogotá-El Dorado Airport after being struck by an Aerocondor Lockheed L-188AF Electra registered HK-1976 that crashed on takeoff. The aircraft was empty at the time of the accident.

Crash of a Lockheed L-188AF Electra in Bogotá: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 10, 1975
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HK-1976
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bogotá - Barranquilla
MSN:
1087
YOM:
1959
Country:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Just after liftoff at Bogotá-El Dorado Airport, while in initial climb, the four engine airplane adopted a nose up attitude. With a high angle of attack, the airplane stalled and banked right before crashing in flames onto the tarmac where it collided with a parked Aerocosta Colombia DC-6F registered HK-756. Both aircraft were destroyed by fire and while the DC-6 was empty, two of the four crew members on board the Electra were killed.
Probable cause:
Wrong manoeuvre on part of the pilot-in-command after takeoff caused the aircraft to adopt a nose up attitude and stall. Poor flight preparation and lack of crew coordination were considered as contributing factors. The assumption that an engine lost power or failed after rotation was not ruled out, which may have influenced the loss of control.

Crash of a Handley Page HPR-7 Dart Herald 101 in Bogotá

Date & Time: Jun 22, 1975
Operator:
Registration:
HK-715
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
151
YOM:
1961
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Bogotá-El Dorado Airport, while climbing, the crew encountered technical problems with an engine that lost power. Unable to maintain the prescribed altitude, the crew attempted an emergency landing in a prairie when the aircraft crashed near the suburb of La Libertad, about 9 km southwest of the airport. All three occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Loss of power on one engine for undetermined reason.