Zone
Antioquia

Crash of a Vickers 745D Viscount in Medellín

Date & Time: Mar 31, 1991
Type of aircraft:
Vickers Viscount
Operator:
Registration:
HK-1708
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Bogotá – San Andrés
MSN:
138
YOM:
1956
Location:
Medellín-José María Córdova (Rionegro)
Antioquia
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While cruising at an altitude of 16,000 feet on a cargo flight from Bogotá to San Andrés Island, the crew encountered atmospheric turbulences when both artificial horizons failed. The aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent but the crew was able to regain control at an altitude of 4,000. The pilot declared an emergency and was cleared to divert to Medellín-José Maria Cordova Airport where the aircraft landed safely. Both pilots escaped with minor injuries while the aircraft was written off. Post accident inspection showed substantial airframe damage including a crack in the lower main spar boom extending across 35% of its chord. It is believed that the initial damage had been caused by a landing gear collapse 14 February 1988 which was then exacerbated by the loss of control during the turbulence on this flight.

Crash of a Boeing 707-321B in Cove Neck: 73 killed

Date & Time: Jan 25, 1990 at 2134 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 707
Operator:
Registration:
HK-2016
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Bogotá – Medellín – New York
MSN:
19276/592
YOM:
1967
Flight number:
AV052
Location:
Cove Neck
New York
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
149
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
73
Captain / Total flying hours:
16787
Captain / Total hours on type:
1534.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1837
Copilot / Total hours on type:
64
Aircraft flight hours:
61764
Circumstances:
Avianca flight 052 (AV052), a Boeing 707-321B with Colombian registration HK-2016, crashed in a wooded residential area in Cove Neck, Long Island, NY. AV052 was a scheduled international passenger flight from Bogotá, Colombia, to New York-JFK Intl Airport, NY, with an intermediate stop at Jose Maria Cordova Airport, near Medellín, Columbia. Of the 158 persons aboard, 73 were fatally injured. Because of poor weather conditions in the northeastern part of the United States, the flightcrew was placed in holding 3 times by ATC for a total of about 1 hour and 17 minutes. During the 3rd period of holding, the flightcrew reported that the aircraft could not hold longer than 5 minutes, that it was running out of fuel, and that it could not reach its alternate airport, Boston-Logan Intl. Subsequently, the flightcrew executed a missed approach to JFK Intl Airport. While trying to return to the airport, the aircraft experienced a loss of power to all 4 engines and crashed approximately 21 miles northeast of JFK Airport.
Probable cause:
The failure of the flightcrew to adequately manage the airplane's fuel load, and their failure to communicate an emergency fuel situation to air traffic control before fuel exhaustion occurred. Contributing to the accident was the flightcrew's failure to use an airline operational control dispatch system to assist them during the international flight into a high-density airport in poor weather. Also contributing to the accident was inadequate traffic flow management by the faa and the lack of standardized understandable terminology for pilots and controllers for minimum and emergency fuel states. The safety board also determines that windshear, crew fatigue and stress were factors that led to the unsuccessful completion of the first approach and thus contributed to the accident.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Turbo Commander 681 near El Retiro: 8 killed

Date & Time: Mar 12, 1986 at 2258 LT
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Turbo Commander 680/681
Operator:
Inversiones Gabriel J. Restrepo
Registration:
HK-2217P
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Medellín – Cali
MSN:
681-6053
YOM:
1971
Location:
El Retiro
Antioquia
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed Medellín-José María Córdova at 2248LT on a charter flight to Cali. During initial climb, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in unknown circumstances near the city of El Retiro, about 13 km southwest of Medellín Airport. The aircraft was destroyed and all eight occupants were killed.

Crash of a Boeing 707-373C in Medellín: 25 killed

Date & Time: Dec 14, 1983 at 1530 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 707
Operator:
Registration:
HK-2401X
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
City
Schedule:
Medellín - Miami
MSN:
18707
YOM:
1963
Location:
Medellín-José María Córdova (Rionegro)
Antioquia
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
25
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Medellín-Rionegro Airport, while in initial climb, the engine n°3 failed. The aircraft banked right, lost height, struck a powerline then crashed onto two factories located past the runway end. All three crew members as well as 22 people working in both factories were killed. The aircraft disintegrated on impact.
Probable cause:
Failure of the engine n°3 during initial climb for unknown reasons. It was reported that engine n°4 suffered a FOD damage during a preceding takeoff from Medellín Airport and it was later decided to ferry the aircraft to Miami for repairs.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Medellín: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 9, 1954
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
HK-167
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
4272
YOM:
1942
Location:
Medellín-José María Córdova (Rionegro)
Antioquia
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
During initial climb, the airplane went out of control and crashed few km from the airfield, killing both pilots.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-15-CU in Medellín

Date & Time: Nov 24, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Lineas Aéreas del Caribe - LIDCA
Registration:
HK-330
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Medellín – Barranquilla
MSN:
33470
YOM:
1945
Location:
Medellín-José María Córdova (Rionegro)
Antioquia
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Rionegro Airport, while in initial climb, the aircraft stalled and crashed near the runway end. Both crew members were injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
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