Zone
Antioquia

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-60-CS Commando near Planeta Rica: 25 killed

Date & Time: Mar 19, 1960 at 1610 LT
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
HK-516
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
San Andrés – Medellín
MSN:
00384
YOM:
1945
Flight number:
MM901
Location:
Planeta Rica
Córdoba
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
42
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
25
Aircraft flight hours:
15876
Circumstances:
En route from San Andrés Island to Medellín, while cruising in bad weather conditions, the pilot informed ATC about technical problems on the left engine and elected to divert to Planeta Rica. On approach, the aircraft struck the slope of Mt Los Mellos located about 11 km from the airfield. Three crew members and 22 passengers were killed while 21 other occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
The accident was attributed to an error of judgement in that the pilot decided to land at an airport which was closed and where no radio aid was available at the time when he was in visual flight at an adequate altitude and close to several airports offering good characteristics and suitable weather conditions. In addition, the pilot underestimated the malfunction that at the time had developed in the left engine. The following contributing factors intervened:
- Malfunction in the carburetor of the left engine resulting in intermittent overspeeding and slight coughing,
- Adverse weather conditions (namely thick mist, rain, hail and electric storm) which prevailed in the area and in the vicinity of Planeta Rica Airport at the time of the accident,
- The lack of communications which prevented the pilot from being briefed on the weather conditions at Planeta Rica Airport and from being informed of the absence of tower or radio facility services owing to the time-table in force at the airport.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver near Santo Domingo: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 4, 1957 at 0420 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver
Operator:
Registration:
HK-181
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Puerto Berrío – Medellín
MSN:
744
YOM:
1954
Location:
Santo Domingo
Antioquia
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The aircraft landed at Puerto Berrío at 0346LT and took off again for Medellín at 0355LT. It carried a pilot and eight passengers. When it had covered half of the route and while at the highest point along the route, about 8 km from Santo Domingo, the aircraft crashed, at approximately 0420LT, into one of the hills. One passenger was killed instantly, another died later at Medellín, and the others suffered minor injuries.
Probable cause:
After careful study of the present investigation referring to the accident involving aircraft HK-181 owned by Aerotaxi Servicios Aéreos on the territory of the municipality of Santo Domingo ( Antioquia) which occurred on 4 June 1957, it is found that the cause of the accident was pilot error. This error consisted in the pilot's having flown too low under poor weather conditions and in his having engaged his aircraft in a canyon with no outlet. He was thus forced to make an emergency landing on unsuitable terrain. Unfavourable weather conditions being an extenuating circumstance, Civil Aeronautics rules that the pilot is to pay a penalty fine of five hundred pesos ($500.00) into the National Treasury in view of his responsibility for this accident which resulted in two deaths, and in the destruction of the aircraft. Aerotaxi Servicios Aéreos shall submit the pilot to severe checking before allowing him to fly again as a taxi pilot.
Final Report:

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina near Cáqueza: 14 killed

Date & Time: Dec 8, 1956 at 0705 LT
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
HK-133
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Bogotá – Medellín - Quibdó
MSN:
21998
YOM:
1943
Location:
Cáqueza
Cundinamarca
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
14
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Santa Cecilia Airport, Bogotá at 0647LT bound for Medellín and Quibdó, carrying a crew of 5 and 11 passengers. Take-off was made at a time when the airport was closed due to poor visibility. While flying on instruments a few moments after take-off, the starboard engine failed. The aircraft continued its flight over the Sabana de Bogotá for approximately 23 minutes, following which, while flying on a magnetic heading of approximately 280 degrees, it crashed violently (at approximately 0705LT) against the Quetame Hill located near Cáqueza, about 30 km southeast of Bogotá, at an elevation of 9,170 feet. The flight engineer and one passenger were injured while 14 other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The probable cause of the accident was a complete failure of the starboard engine due to the breakdown of the lubricating system. The following factors were considered as contributing:
- Recklessness of the pilot in taking off from a closed airport while aware of the poor weather conditions prevailing throughout the Sabana, a circumstance which prevented returning to the airport of departure when complete breakdown of the starboard engine occurred,
- The 1,506 kg overload of the aircraft above the maximum gross operating weight for Bogotá according to the performance curves of the aircraft,
- The adverse weather conditions prevailing from the moment of take-off until the moment of the accident,
- An error of judgment on the part of the Operations and Maintenance Sections of the Company in failing to provide for a test flight of the aircraft after the turbine section had been changed and in finding aircraft HK-133 airworthy for the purpose of a scheduled flight with passengers under such conditions,
- The lack of competent air traffic and weather authorities at Santa Cecilia airport in a position to check civil aviation regulations and to prohibit take off from a closed airport,
- Faulty internal organization within AIDA which should have defined exactly the duties of the Maintenance Superintendent, of the Maintenance Chief and of the Dispatcher,
- The failure of the Company to have available a spare engine which would have avoided carrying out such delicate repair work in a hasty manner.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-80-DL in Manizales: 23 killed

Date & Time: Jan 11, 1954 at 0615 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
HK-160
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Medellín – Armenia
MSN:
19540
YOM:
1944
Location:
Manizales
Caldas
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
19
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
23
Circumstances:
At 0600LT, the crew started the descent to Armenia Airport but was instructed by ATC to divert to Manizales due to poor weather at destination. The crew modified his route and diverted to Manizales Airport located about 60 km north of Armenia. About fifteen minutes later, while descending to Manizales by night and poor weather conditions, the aircraft collided with a mountain shrouded by clouds and disintegrated on impact, killing all 23 occupants.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-45-CU Commando in Medellín

Date & Time: Feb 15, 1953 at 0745 LT
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Lineas Interamericana Aérea
Registration:
HK-606
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Barranquilla – Medellín
Location:
Medellín
Antioquia
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On touchdown, the airplane went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest. All six occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Noorduyn Norseman in Caldas: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 6, 1951 at 1020 LT
Type of aircraft:
Noorduyn Norseman
Operator:
Registration:
HK-710
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Cartago – Medellín
MSN:
166
YOM:
1943
Location:
Caldas
Antioquia
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
While approaching Medellín Airport from the south, the aircraft suffered an engine failure. The pilot lost control of the airplane that crashed in a pasture located in Caldas. Both occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Lockheed 18 LodeStar in Bogota

Date & Time: Jun 29, 1948 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 18 LodeStar
Operator:
Registration:
C-408
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Bogotá – Medellín
Location:
Bogotá-Techo
Bogotá Capital District
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Bogotá-Techo Airport, while on a cargo flight to Medellín, the crew encountered engine problems and elected to return. Due to technical issues, the crew was unable to lower the gear so the aircraft belly landed and came to rest. There were no injuries but the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Engine problems.

Crash of a Lockheed C-60A-5-LO LodeStar in Medellín

Date & Time: Apr 13, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed C-60 LodeStar
Operator:
Registration:
C-803
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Medellín – Bogotá
Location:
Medellín
Antioquia
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from Medellín-Las Playas Airport, the crew decided to return for an emergency landing. On final, the twin engine aircraft crashed in flames in a field and was destroyed. Both occupants were uninjured.

Crash of a Lockheed C-60A-5-LO LodeStar in Medellin: 8 killed

Date & Time: Mar 17, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed C-60 LodeStar
Operator:
Registration:
YS-28
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Medellin – San José
MSN:
18-2450
YOM:
1943
Location:
Medellín
Antioquia
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Medellin Airport, while climbing, the twin engine aircraft hit the slope of Cerro del Padre Amaya located 12 km northwest of the airport. The aircraft was destroyed and all 8 occupants were killed.
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