Quito | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

While descending to Quito-Mariscal Sucre Airport, the crew decided to abandon the approach and initiate a go-around. While in a holding pattern, the four engine airplane struck the slope of a mountain located 15 km from the airport. All 10 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Vickers 785D Viscount near Shell: 57 killed

Date & Time: Apr 23, 1979 at 0745 LT

Type of aircraft:

Vickers Viscount

Operator:

Registration:

HC-AVP

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Quito - Cuenca

MSN:

329

YOM:

1957

Flight number:

EH011

Location:

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Pax on board:

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Circumstances:

The four engine airplane departed Quito-Mariscal Sucre Airport at 0708LT on a schedule service (EH011) to Cuenca. While cruising at an altitude of 18,000 in clouds, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain and disappeared from radar screens. SAR operations were initiated but eventually abandoned few day slater as no trace of the aircraft nor the 57 occupants was found. The wreckage was located about 5 years later in a mountainous area located in the region of Shell-Mera, province of Pastaza.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain. At the time of the accident, the airplane was off course by 25 nm for undetermined reasons.

Crash of a Cessna 404 Titan II in Bogotá: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 2, 1977 at 1000 LT

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 404 Titan

Operator:

Aeroexpreso de Cañar (AECA)

Registration:

HC-BDF

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Bogotá – Quito

Location:

Bogotá-Guaymaral

Bogotá Capital District

Country:

Colombia

Region:

South America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff, while climbing, the pilot initiated a turn when the twin engine airplane stalled and crashed in flames. Both occupants were killed.

Crash of a Vickers 785D Viscount on Mt Chimborazo: 59 killed

Date & Time: Aug 15, 1976 at 0835 LT

Type of aircraft:

Vickers Viscount

Operator:

Registration:

HC-ARS

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Quito - Cuenca

MSN:

377

YOM:

1958

Flight number:

EH232

Location:

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed Quito-Mariscal Sucre Airport at 0806LT on a regular schedule flight EH232 to Cuenca, carrying four crew members and 55 passengers. At 0827LT, while cruising at 18,000 feet, the crew reported over Ambato. Eight minutes later, while cruising in limited visibility, the four engine airplane struck the slope of Mt Chimborazo (6,263 metres high). As the airplane failed to arrive at destination, SAR operations were initiated but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the 59 occupants was found. The wreckage was apparently localized on 17 October 2002 and a team of 20 alpinists was able to reach the crash site on 18 February 2003. Debris of the airplane were found, confirming this was flight EH232.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-Dl on Mt Sangay: 6 killed

Date & Time: Mar 14, 1972 at 1630 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

HC-SJE

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Quito - Macas

MSN:

4425

YOM:

1942

Location:

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Circumstances:

En route from Quito to Macas on a cargo flight, the airplane struck the slope of the Sangay volcano (5,230 meters high) located 40 km northwest of Macas. A crew member survived while six others were killed.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-1-DL on Mt Nevado de Santa Isabel: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 3, 1971

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Compaña de Aviacion Aéreo Amazonas

Registration:

HC-ANJ

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Ferry

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Quito - Bogotá

MSN:

20719

YOM:

1944

Location:

Mt Nevado de Santa Isabel

Tolima

Country:

Colombia

Region:

South America

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

The crew was on his way from Quito to Bogotá as the aircraft was under a maintenance program. While cruising at an altitude of 5,100 meters in poor weather conditions, the airplane struck the slope of Mt Nevado de Santa Isabel located about 150 km west of Bogotá. SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found. The wreckage was spotted on January 6, 1972. The accident was not survivable.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Fokker F27 Friendship 400M near Huaricanga: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jun 10, 1970

Type of aircraft:

Fokker F27 Friendship

Operator:

Registration:

TC-75

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Quito - Lima - Salta - Buenos Aires

MSN:

10411

YOM:

1969

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

838

Aircraft flight cycles:

944

Circumstances:

While cruising at an altitude of 4,500 meters in clouds, the airplane struck a mountain located in the region of Huaricanga. Three occupants were rescued while five others were killed.

Crash of a Vickers 798D Viscount in Cuenca

Date & Time: Jun 3, 1970

Type of aircraft:

Vickers Viscount

Operator:

Registration:

HC-ART

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Quito – Cuenca

MSN:

288

YOM:

1958

Location:

Cuenca-Mariscal La Mar

Azuay

Country:

Ecuador

Region:

South America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

After touchdown at Cuenca Airport, the airplane was unable to stop within the remaining distance and overran. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 in Lloa: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 29, 1968

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Quito – Salinas

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

Few minutes after takeoff from Quito-Mariscal Sucre Airport, both engines failed. The crew reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft crashed in an open field and came to rest, broken in two. The wreckage was found near Lloa, some 28 km southwest of Quito Airport. While all 10 passengers were injured, both pilots were killed.
Crew:
Cpt César Egas, pilot,
Lt Galo Molina Hidalgo, pilot.

Probable cause:

Double engine failure for unknown reason.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3 in Marinilla: 6 killed

Date & Time: Aug 11, 1967

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-3

Operator:

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Miami - Quito

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While completing an illegal flight, the airplane suffered an engine failure. The crew elected to make an emergency landing when control was lost and the airplane crashed. All six occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Engine failure in flight.