Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL near Buenaventura: 27 killed

Date & Time: Aug 12, 1974 at 1000 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
HK-508
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Tumaco - Cali
MSN:
4527
YOM:
1942
Flight number:
AV610
Location:
Buenaventura
Valle del Cauca
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
24
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
27
Circumstances:
The crew departed Tumaco-La Florida Airport at 0825LT with an ETA in Cali at 0955LT. En route, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with a limited visibility due to rain falls. The airplane deviated from the prescribed flight plan when, at an altitude of 9,670 feet, it struck the slope of Mt Trujillo located in the region of Buenaventura, about 75 km northwest of Cali Airport. SAR operations were suspended after few days as no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found. Eventually, the wreckage was found in a ravine on October 31st 1974. All 27 occupants were killed.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver in El Charco: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 1, 1969 at 1500 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver
Operator:
Registration:
HK-196
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Buenaventura – El Charco
MSN:
870
YOM:
1956
Location:
El Charco
Nariño
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances while approaching El Charco. Two passengers were killed.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver in Buenaventura: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jan 4, 1964 at 1015 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver
Operator:
Registration:
HK-956
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Cali – Buenaventura
MSN:
1265
YOM:
1958
Location:
Buenaventura
Valle del Cauca
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
While descending to Buenaventura Airport on a flight from Cali, the single engine aircraft crashed on hilly terrain, killing all five occupants.

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 680 near Cali: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 17, 1962 at 1007 LT
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Aero Commander 680
Operator:
Registration:
FAC-553
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Buenaventura – Cali
MSN:
680-454-124
YOM:
1958
Location:
Cali
Valle del Cauca
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft left Buenaventura Airport at 0940LT for 45 minutes flight to Cali, ETA 1025LT. En route, the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances, killing all four occupants.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL near Tuluá: 15 killed

Date & Time: Mar 9, 1957 at 1000 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
HK-155
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Condoto – Buenaventura – Cali
MSN:
4338
YOM:
1942
Location:
Tuluá
Valle del Cauca
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
15
Circumstances:
HK-155 departed Cali for Condoto at 0827LT. It reported taking-off from Condoto on the return flight at 0950LT and advised that it would fly via Buenaventura. Shortly after take-off, HK-155 changed from Condoto Tower frequency to the Cali aeronautical telecommunications frequency and reported at 0958 that it had departed Condoto at 0950 with a load of 975 kg including 12 passengers and that it was proceeding to Cali via Buenaventura. No record could be found of a later call from the aircraft on any of the frequencies available. The flight from Condoto to Cali would normally take about 50 to 55 minutes. At 1037, Cali called HK-155 but received no reply. The Cali route frequencies log indicates at 1107 that Bogota: ATC had declared an alert with regard to HK-155. The wreckage was found on the slope of a wooded mountain located 32 km west of Tuluá. All 15 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the probable cause of the accident was an instrument flight at inadequate altitude. The following factors were considered as contributing:
- The Buenaventura route was not followed,
- Instrument flight which precluded visual means of checking the aircraft's position,
- The pilot did not consider it necessary to check his position by means of El Paso radio beacon,
- Over-confidence on the part of the pilot regarding his knowledge of the route,
- Flight outside the established route or airway
- Unfavorable weather conditions.
As the aircraft crashed on the direct route Condoto - Cali and the said route had not been authorized by the Civil Aeronautics Department, it can be logically assumed that the pilot is solely responsible for this accident since he flew, on instruments, a route which had not been authorized, even for visual flights.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-49G-DO on Mt El Rucio: 36 killed

Date & Time: Nov 17, 1956 at 1645 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-49 (DC-3)
Operator:
Aerolineas del Pacifico - ARPA
Registration:
HK-385
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Buenaventura – Cali
MSN:
1971
YOM:
1937
Location:
Mt El Rucio
Huíla
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
33
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
36
Circumstances:
The aircraft took off from Buenaventura at 1630LT on a return flight to el Guavito aerodrome, Cali. Expected time of arrival at Cali was 1700 hours. On board the aircraft were the pilot, a steward (who held no licence to act as such), a flight engineer (who on this occasion was acting as copilot), and 33 passengers. When 1700 hours passed with no sign of the aircraft's arriving at Cali, a search was initiated. The wreckage was located the same evening on the side of El Rucio mountain. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 36 occupants have been killed.
Probable cause:
The most probable cause of the accident was a flight on instruments at an excessively low altitude for the route. A lack of discipline on the part of the pilot was considered as a contributing factor.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47 near Buenaventura: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 6, 1950 at 1530 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
FAC-665
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Panama City – Cali
Location:
Buenaventura
Valle del Cauca
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Albrook AFB in Panama City at 1315LT bound for Cali. At 1520LT, the crew informed ground that he was flying over Buenaventura. This was the last radio contact as the aircraft disappeared ten minutes later. The wreckage was found two weeks later in a mountain range located near the border of the States of Chocó and Valle del Cauca. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Lt Antonio Echandia Rocha, pilot,
Lt Rubén D. Ariza, copilot,
Octavio Arango, mechanic,
Mr. Duarte, mariner.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina off Buenaventura: 5 killed

Date & Time: Feb 5, 1949 at 0904 LT
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
HK-134
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Location:
Buenaventura
Valle del Cauca
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Crashed on landing into the Bay of Buenaventura. Both pilots and three passengers were killed.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina in Buenaventura: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 20, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
C-406
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Cali - Buenaventura
Location:
Buenaventura
Valle del Cauca
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
After landing in the harbor of Buenaventura, the seaplane hit a floating tree trunk, went out of control and came to rest. At least one occupant was killed.
Probable cause:
Collision with a tree trunk.

Crash of a Junkers F.13 near Buenaventura

Date & Time: May 12, 1938
Type of aircraft:
Junkers F.13
Operator:
Registration:
C-35
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Tumaco – Buenaventura
Location:
Buenaventura
Valle del Cauca
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While approaching Buenaventura, the single engine aircraft named 'Darién' crashed in unknown circumstances in the mouth of Rio Cajambre, some 40 km south of Buenaventura. All three occupants were injured and the aircraft was lost.
Crew:
Mr. Loest, pilot,
Guillermo Calvo, copilot.
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