Zone
La Paz

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-25-DK in Tipuani: 4 killed

Date & Time: Aug 22, 1964
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Servicios Aéreos Cochabamba
Registration:
CP-680
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
La Paz-Tipuani
MSN:
13371
YOM:
1944
Location:
Tipuani
La Paz
Country:
Bolivia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
On approach to Tipuani, the crew encountered marginal weather conditions. In limited visibility, the aircraft descended to low and struck the north slope of Mt Huayna located few km from the airport. All four occupants were killed. The flight had been delayed because of bad weather over the Cordillera mountains and over the destination Tipuani.
Probable cause:
The flight was conducted in IMC conditions at an altitude unsafe for operations of that nature through the Huayna Pass."
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas SC-47D in La Paz

Date & Time: Jun 6, 1964 at 1117 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
CP-729
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
15798/32546
YOM:
1945
Location:
La Paz-El Alto
La Paz
Country:
Bolivia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on takeoff for unknown reasons. No injuries.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-65-DL in Yacuiba: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 4, 1964
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
CP-568
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Yacuiba – La Paz
MSN:
19024
YOM:
1943
Location:
Yacuiba
Tarija
Country:
Bolivia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
26
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Just after liftoff, while in initial climb, the airplane stalled and crashed near the runway end. Two passengers were killed and 27 other occupants were injured. The aircraft was written off.

Crash of a Boeing B-17G-DL Flying Fortress in La Paz

Date & Time: Dec 18, 1963
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Servicios Aéreos Cochabamba
Registration:
CP-694
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
8733
Location:
La Paz-El Alto
La Paz
Country:
Bolivia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Suffered an accident at La Paz-El Alto Airport. Occupant's fate unknown.

Crash of a Douglas DC-6B on Mt Chachacomani: 39 killed

Date & Time: Mar 15, 1963 at 1355 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-6
Operator:
Registration:
CP-707
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Arica – La Paz – Cochabamba
MSN:
43547
YOM:
1951
Flight number:
LB915
Location:
Mt Chachacomani
Tacna
Country:
Peru
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
36
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
39
Captain / Total flying hours:
10069
Captain / Total hours on type:
1319.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
4034
Copilot / Total hours on type:
910
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Arica on the return flight at approximately 1327 hours Bolivian time. It was to be an eight-hour, VFR flight, and the aircraft was to cruise at 17,000 feet. Eight minutes after take-off the crew advised ATC at Cochabamba of the departure time, the number of passengers on board, the aircraft's weight and the amount of fuel being carried. Between 1347 and 1348 the air traffic controller at La Paz advised that Panagra flights 701 and 393, flying at 22,000 and 21,000 feet were estimating Charaña at 1355 and Arica at 1351 respectively. Flight 915 acknowledged the message. ATC at La Paz called the flight at approximately 1400 hours, and several times thereafter, to report on the new positions of the two Panagra aircraft, which were in the Arica zone but received no reply. It was determined subsequently that the aircraft crashed into Chachacomani Peak (latitude 17°49'00'', longitude 69°50'00''W) in Peruvian territory near the Chilean border at an altitude of 14,250 feet, sometime between 1351 and 1355. The wreckage was spotted by the crew of a reconnaissance aircraft few hours later and the first rescuers arrived on scene later to confirm that all 39 occupants have been killed.
Probable cause:
A flight under visual flight rules was attempted below the minimum altitude indicated in the flight plan in weather conditions that were marginal for this type of operation and were associated with the severe turbulence which usually exists in that region (western area).
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-7B in La Paz

Date & Time: Oct 29, 1962 at 1508 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-7
Operator:
Registration:
N51702
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
La Paz – Miami
MSN:
44702
YOM:
1955
Location:
La Paz-El Alto
La Paz
Country:
Bolivia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
36
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft suffered an accident while taking off from La Paz-El Alto Airport, en route to Miami-Intl. The aircraft was written off while all 42 occupants were evacuated safely.

Crash of a Consolidated C-87 Liberator Express in La Paz

Date & Time: May 21, 1960
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated C-87 Liberator Express
Operator:
Boliviana de Aviación (1960)
Registration:
CP-618
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
La Paz-El Alto
La Paz
Country:
Bolivia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances at La Paz-El Alto Airport. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Douglas DC-4-1009 near Cochabamba: 59 killed

Date & Time: Feb 5, 1960 at 0720 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-4
Operator:
Registration:
CP-609
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Cochabamba – La Paz
MSN:
10510
YOM:
1945
Location:
Cochabamba
Cochabamba
Country:
Bolivia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
55
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
59
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from Cochabamba-Jorge Wilsterman Airport, while climbing to an altitude of 9,000 feet, the captain informed ATC that an engine exploded. Shortly later, the airplane went out of control and crashed in Laguna Huanacota, about 13 km south of the airport. A young girl aged two was seriously injured while all 58 other occupants were killed. While being evacuated to the hospital, the only survivor died from her injuries.
Probable cause:
Investigations believe it is probable that the engine would have exploded due to its excessive contribution. At the time of the accident, the total weight of the aircraft was greater than the maximum allowable take-off weight, which remains a factor contributing to the engine explosion.

Crash of an Avro 691 Lancastrian 4 in La Paz: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 16, 1958 at 1158 LT
Type of aircraft:
Avro 691 Lancastrian
Operator:
Registration:
T-66
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Buenos Aires – La Paz
MSN:
1402
YOM:
1946
Location:
La Paz-El Alto
La Paz
Country:
Bolivia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
On landing, the four engine aircraft went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest in flames. Two passengers and the mechanic were killed while nine other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.
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