Quito-Mariscal Sucre (City) | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The twin engine airplane departed Quito-Mariscal Sucre Airport around noon on a flight to Macará, carrying six passengers and three crew members, among them Jaime Roldós Aguilera, President of the Republic of Ecuador who was making an official visit of the south region of Ecuador. While cruising at an altitude of 7,700 feet in marginal weather conditions, the airplane struck the slope of Mt Huayra Pungo located 40 km north of Macará. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all nine occupants were killed. The airplane had dual registration HC-BHG and FAE001A.
Crew:
Col Marco Andrade Buitrón, pilot,
Lt Galo Romo Altamirano, copilot,
María Soledad Zapata, stewardess.
Passengers:
Mr. Jaime Roldós Aguilera, President of the Republic of Ecuador,
Mrs. Martha Bucaram, President's spouse,
Mr. Marco Aurelio Subía Martinez, Minister of Defense,
Mrs. Gladys Irlanda Sarango; Mr. Martinez's spouse,
Mr. Armando Arsenio Navarrete,
Col Héctor Alfredo Torres Velázques.

Probable cause:

The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty as the airplane was not equipped with any recording equipment. Nevertheless, Ecuadorian Air Force attributed the accident to a controlled flight into terrain caused by a navigational error on part of the flying crew while flying in limited visibility due to marginal weather conditions.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 in Macara: 18 killed

Date & Time: May 22, 1981 at 1500 LT

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter

Operator:

Registration:

FAE457

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Quito - Macará

MSN:

457

YOM:

1975

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane was completing a flight from Quito to Macará, carrying members of the Ecuadorian government, Army Officers and journalists who were flying to the south of the country, taking part to the next official visit of the President of the Republic of Ecuador Jaime Roldós Aguilera. While descending to Macará, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with low clouds and rain showers. Too low, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain and crashed few km from Macará. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and all 18 occupants were killed. The airplane had a dual registration FAE457 and HC-BAX.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Boeing 720-059B in Quito

Date & Time: Jan 27, 1980

Type of aircraft:

Boeing 720

Operator:

Registration:

HK-725

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

18087/249

YOM:

1961

Location:

Quito-Mariscal Sucre (City)

Pichincha

Country:

Ecuador

Region:

South America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

After landing at Quito-Mariscal Sucre Airport, the airplane was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran, lost its nose gear and came to a halt about 70 meters past the runway end. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Wrong approach configuration on part of the crew who landed at an excessive speed of 143 knots instead of the requested 123 knots according to actual flight conditions. The touchdown point was 300 meters past the runway threshold and the crew failed to activate the emergency brakes.

Crash of a Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain in Puerto Francisco de Orellana: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jul 14, 1978

Type of aircraft:

Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain

Operator:

Ecuavia

Registration:

HC-BEP

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Puerto Francisco de Orellana - Quito

Location:

Puerto Francisco de Orellana

Orellana

Country:

Ecuador

Region:

South America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances after takeoff from Puerto Francisco de Orellana Airport, killing all seven occupants.

Crash of a Douglas DC-2-118A in Quito

Date & Time: Nov 29, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-2

Operator:

Registration:

NC14292

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Guayaquil – Salinas – Manta – Esmeraldas – Quito – Cali

MSN:

1352

YOM:

1935

Location:

Quito-Mariscal Sucre (City)

Pichincha

Country:

Ecuador

Region:

South America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed Guayaquil on an international schedule service to Cali, Colombia, with intermediate stops in Salinas, Manta, Esmeraldas and Quito. About five minutes after takeoff from Quito-Mariscal Sucre (City) Airport, the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances 3 km from the airport. All five occupants were injured.
Crew:
J. J. Schiedel, pilot,
Mr. Benninghoff, copilot,
Mr. Arba Mock, radio operator,
Mrs. Maya Tafur, stewardess.
Passenger:
Mr. Luis Luna.