Crash of a Douglas DC-4-1009 in Bogotá: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 22, 1966 at 0315 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-4
Operator:
Registration:
HK-174
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Bogotá - Barranquilla
MSN:
42929
YOM:
1946
Flight number:
AV870
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
Captain / Total flying hours:
13000
Captain / Total hours on type:
3244.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1965
Circumstances:
Flight 870 was a scheduled domestic cargo flight from Bogotá-El Dorado International Airport to Barranquilla-Soledad Airport. The aircraft took off from runway 30 at 0315 hours local time. According to some witnesses it appeared to lift off with difficulty opposite the control tower and when it reached the airport boundary the crew announced that they were returning to land. The Control Tower asked why they were returning but received no reply. After the accident tower control personnel stated that during take-off the noise of the engines was louder than usual, as if more than one engine was overspeeding, and that when the aircraft started to turn they observed a sudden flash following which they lost visual contact with the aircraft. Shortly thereafter the aircraft struck some trees 400 m from the "San Ramón" property, in a field belonging to the "Laguna Vieja" estate, between the roads leading to Funza and Engativá. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and both pilots were killed.
Probable cause:
Material failure consisting in fatigue failure of a number of teeth of the pinion of the governor control unit, which was jammed against the rack in the "up" position and therefore set for maximum rpm, thus causing the engine to overspeed. This would be in keeping with the fact that the dome ring was at maximum low pitch setting, i.e. high rpm and a runaway propeller on take-off. Was considered as a contributing factor the faulty supervision by the Company. This consisted in briefing the pilot-in-command of the aircraft to make a night flight when he was not qualified for DC-4s, since he was still undergoing training for conversion to L-759.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47 near Chipaque: 11 killed

Date & Time: Jan 6, 1966 at 1822 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
FAC-675
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Bogotá – Barranca de Upía – San Pedro de Arimena – Orocué – San Luis de Palenque – Aguazul – Monterrey – Paz de Ariporo – Cravo Norte – Coroza – Tame – Bogotá
Location:
Chipaque
Cundinamarca
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
The aircraft was completing a special flight out from Bogotá and return on behalf of the Bank of Bogotá, carrying people from isolated area. Following stopover in Barranca de Upía, San Pedro de Arimena, Orocué, San Luis de Palenque, Aguazul, Monterrey, Paz de Ariporo, Cravo Norte, Coroza and Tame, the aircraft was returning to the capital city with nine passengers and two pilots on board. About eight minutes before the ETA at El Dorado Airport, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located near Chipaque. The aircraft was destroyed and all 11 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3 in Bucaramanga: 15 killed

Date & Time: Oct 17, 1965
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
HK-118
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Bogotá – Bucaramanga
MSN:
6182
YOM:
1942
Flight number:
AV508
Location:
Bucaramanga
Santander
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While approaching Bucaramanga-Gomez Niño Airport from the north, the Dakota collided with a private Piper PA-18A Super Cub registered HK-922P. Following the collision, both aircraft dove into the ground and crashed near the Las Terrazas residential area. All 15 occupants on board the DC-3 and the pilot of the PA-18 were killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the collision remains unclear.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-Dl near San Vincente de Caguán: 29 killed

Date & Time: Mar 22, 1965 at 1455 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
HK-109
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Bogotá – Bucaramanga
MSN:
4753
YOM:
1942
Flight number:
AV676
Location:
San Vicente del Caguán
Caquetá
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
26
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
29
Captain / Total flying hours:
6201
Captain / Total hours on type:
268.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
4941
Copilot / Total hours on type:
4941
Aircraft flight hours:
32455
Circumstances:
Flight 676 was a scheduled domestic flight from Eldorado Airport, Bogotá to Bucaramanga. It departed Bogotá at 1358 hours, local time. At 1450 hours it reported over Cimitarra at 9 000 ft in VMC, estimating Bucaramanga at 1510 hours. This was the last communication from the flight. When information of arrival was not received at the airport of destination, a state of alert was declared at 1522 hours and an emergency was subsequently declared at 1540 hours. The wreckage of the aircraft was located on 24 March at an altitude of approximately 7 200 ft on the peak known as Pan de Azucar, 35 NM from Bucaramanga on a magnetic bearing of 45'. The accident occurred at approximately 1455 hours. All 29 occupants have been killed.
Probable cause:
The pilot-in-command continued to fly VFR in unfavourable meteorological conditions which necessitated operation by instrument flight rules.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Bucaramanga

Date & Time: Mar 11, 1965 at 0710 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
HK-153
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Bucaramanga – Bogotá
MSN:
4711
YOM:
1942
Flight number:
AV677
Location:
Bucaramanga-Gomez Niño
Santander
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
31
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll at Bucaramanga-Gomez Niño Airport, the airplane became uncontrollable, veered off runway and struck a ditch before coming to rest in flames. All 34 occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft was partially destroyed by fire.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 in the Cordillera de Los Picachos National Park: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jun 4, 1963
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
HK-1082
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
San Vicente del Caguán – Bogotá
Location:
Cordillera de Los Picachos National Park
Meta
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed San Vicente del Caguán on a cargo flight to Bogotá-El Dorado Airport, carrying two passengers, three crew and a load consisting of 12 calves. As the airplane failed to arrive in Bogotá, SAR operations were conducted. A week later, the wreckage was found on the slope of Mt Mirador located in the Cordillera de Los Picachos National Park, State of Meta. All five occupants and all 12 animals were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-54D-10-DC Skymaster near Suárez: 5 killed

Date & Time: Nov 16, 1962 at 2212 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
FAC-693
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Bogotá - Bogotá
MSN:
10183
YOM:
1944
Location:
Suárez
Tolima
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew departed Bogotá-El Dorado Airport in the evening for a night training mission. En route, the four engine aircraft struck the slope of Mt Guayatama located near Suárez, about 100 km southwest of its departure point. The aircraft was destroyed and all five crew members were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-54B-1-DC Skymaster in Cúcuta

Date & Time: Jan 28, 1962
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
HK-130
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Bogotá – Cúcuta
MSN:
10469
YOM:
1944
Location:
Cúcuta-Camilo Daza
Norte de Santander
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
50
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
For unknown reason, the four engine aircraft landed hard at Cúcuta-Camilo Daza Airport. On touchdown on runway 33, the main landing gear punctured the fuel tanks. The airplane rolled for dozen yards before coming to rest in flames as the fuel leaked and ignited. All 54 occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft was written off.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-10-CU Commando in Bogotá: 37 killed

Date & Time: Apr 19, 1960 at 1908 LT
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
HK-390
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Miami – Barranquilla – Medellín – Bogotá
MSN:
32954
YOM:
1944
Flight number:
LL503
Location:
Bogotá-El Dorado
Bogotá Capital District
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
44
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
37
Aircraft flight hours:
8289
Circumstances:
While on final approach to El Dorado Airport in Bogotá, the airplane stalled and crashed few km short of runway 12. Fourteen people were evacuated while 37 others, among them six crew members, were killed.
Probable cause:
The pilot failed to take proper action to counteract the loss of speed and height in the final approach turn. The following factors contributed to the accident:
- Lack of operational control by the airlines concerned,
- The pilot in command lacked experience as a transport pilot,
- It is probable that the report from the control tower at Eldorado that the runway was restricted because another aircraft had crashed in the safety zone had a psychological effect on the pilot.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-1-CK Commando in Bogotá

Date & Time: Dec 1, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Linea Aérea Transatlantica de Colombia - LATCO
Registration:
HK-67
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
33
YOM:
1944
Location:
Bogotá-El Dorado
Bogotá Capital District
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on landing for unknown reason. No casualties.
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