Santa Cruz-Viru Viru | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The twin engine airplane was engaged in a humanitarian flight from Bolivia to Brazil, carrying one passenger and a pilot. Shortly after takeoff from a little private airstrip located in the suburb of Santa Cruz, the crew was supposed to land at Santa Cruz-Viru Viru International Airport before continuing to Manaus, Brazil. After takeoff, the pilot encountered engine problems (power issue) and decided to return for an emergency landing when the airplane struck trees and belly landed in a grassy area located in Barrio Lindo. Both occupants were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of an Avro RJ85 in La Ceja: 71 killed

Date & Time: Nov 28, 2016 at 2158 LT

Type of aircraft:

Avro RJ85

Operator:

Registration:

CP-2933

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Santa Cruz - Medellín

MSN:

E.2348

YOM:

1999

Flight number:

LMI2933

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

6692

Captain / Total hours on type:

3417.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

6923

Copilot / Total hours on type:

1474

Aircraft flight hours:

21640

Aircraft flight cycles:

19737

Circumstances:

The aircraft was performing a charter flight from Santa Cruz-Viru Viru to Medellín-José María Córdova (Rionegro) Airport, carrying members of the Chapecoense Real soccer team from Brazil who were traveling to Medellín to play against Atletico Nacional for a Copa Sudamericana game. The descent to Medellín was started by night and in good weather conditions when it seems that the encountered electrical problem. At 2156LT, while descending to FL155, the four engine aircraft hit tree tops and crashed in a wooded area located on the slope of a mountain located in the Cerro Gordo, near the city of La Ceja, about 17 km south from runway 01 threshold. The aircraft was totally destroyed upon impact but there was no fire. Six (two crew member and four passengers) were injured and evacuated while 71 other occupants were killed. According to first investigations, the crew encountered electrical problems and the aircraft may have suffered a fuel exhaustion. Due to the combination of several factors and findings that were detected during initial investigations, it was determined that the primary cause of the accident may have been a fuel exhaustion. The board of investigation was then in a process to determine the exact circumstances of the occurrence and to understand the course of events and the exact behavior and flight supervision (instruments, fuel jauges, flight preparation, operations, permission, ground assistance) on part of the flight crew and the operator. On December 2, the Civil Aviation Authority of Bolivia revoked with immediate effect the Air Operator Certificate of LAMIA. All flights have been suspended since.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the accident was the consequence of an inappropriate planning and execution of the flight, since the amount of fuel required to fly from the airport of destination to an alternate airport was not considered, nor was the amount of reserve fuel, nor the contingency fuel, nor the minimum landing fuel, quantities of fuel required by aeronautical regulations for the execution of the type of international flight that the aircraft CP-2339 was performing. The following factors were considered as contributing:
- Loss of situational awareness,
– Premature configuration of the aircraft for landing,
– Latent deficiencies,
– Lack of operational supervision and control of part of Operator,
– Organizational and operational deviation on the part of the Operator (non compliant to standard procedures).

Final Report:

Crash of a Curtiss C-46F-1-CU Commando in Santa Cruz: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 21, 2012 at 0813 LT

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

CP-1319

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Santa Cruz - Cobija

MSN:

22428

YOM:

1945

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

12500

Copilot / Total flying hours:

3219

Aircraft flight hours:

29080

Circumstances:

The crew departed Santa Cruz-Viru Viru Airport at 0807LT on a cargo flight to Cobija-E. Beltram Airport. Shortly after takeoff from runway 16, the crew informed ATC he was returning but did not give any details about his situation. On final approach, the aircraft adopted a high-nose attitude, climbed then stalled and crashed 200 metres short of runway, bursting into flames. The passenger was seriously injured and all three crew members were killed. The aircraft was totally destroyed by a post crash fire.

Probable cause:

The cause of the accident was that the aircraft, while on short finals and cleared to land, made an unusual flight maneuver by climbing almost vertically until a wing stall and plunging violently against the terrain, bursting into flames within the security area of the runway.

Final Report:

Crash of a Learjet 35A near La Paz: 6 killed

Date & Time: Mar 9, 2006 at 1630 LT

Type of aircraft:

Learjet 35

Operator:

Registration:

T-21

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Humanitarian

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

La Paz – Santa Cruz – Paraná

MSN:

35-115

YOM:

1977

Location:

La Paz

Country:

Bolivia

Region:

South America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft was flying back to Paraná (Argentina) with an intermediate stop at Santa Cruz with 3 military personnel and 3 technicians and board. They came in La Paz to deliver humanitarian aids after important flood in Bolivia. Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in an open field located 20 km from La Paz-El Alto Airport. All six occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

It appears that the technicians proceeded with small maintenance on the aircraft prior to departure and that a mechanical failure may occurred after rotation.

Ground accident of a Boeing 727-287 in Buenos Aires

Date & Time: Jan 9, 2001 at 1720 LT

Type of aircraft:

Boeing 727-200

Operator:

Registration:

CP-2323

Flight Phase:

Taxiing

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Buenos Aires - Santa Cruz

MSN:

22605/1787

YOM:

1981

Location:

Buenos Aires-Ezeiza-Ministro Pistarini

Buenos Aires City

Country:

Argentina

Region:

South America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

138

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft was taxiing at Buenos Aires-Ezeiza-Ministro Pistarini Airport for a departure from runway 11 when the left main gear collapsed. All 146 occupants evacuated safely but the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the left main landing gear collapsed because the forward trunnion bearing support fitting broke due to intergranular corrosion.

Crash of a Boeing 707-324C in São Paulo

Date & Time: Oct 9, 1994 at 1742 LT

Type of aircraft:

Boeing 707

Operator:

Registration:

HK-3355X

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Campinas - Santa Cruz

MSN:

18886

YOM:

1965

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

After takeoff from Campinas-Viracopos Airport, while climbing, the crew informed ATC about technical problems and was cleared to divert to São Paulo-Guarulhos Airport for an emergency landing. On final, both main landing gears were lowered but apparently not locked while the nose gear remained stuck in its main wheel. Upon touchdown on runway 09L, the aircraft sank on its belly and slid for few dozen metres before coming to rest. All five occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the hydraulic pump n°2 on the engine n°3 failed after takeoff, causing an oil leak and a loss of hydraulic pressure. The undercarriage could be lowered but not locked down while the crew attempted to lower the nose gear manually but doing so, caused the locking pin to obstruct and damage the landing gear extension system. It was also reported that several seals located on hydraulic lines were broken and have not been replaced during the last C check.