Crash of a Vickers 745D Viscount near Quetame: 21 killed

Date & Time: Mar 26, 1982 at 1525 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HK-2382
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Villavicencio - Bogotá
MSN:
212
YOM:
1956
Flight number:
RS217
Country:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
15
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
21
Circumstances:
While flying at an altitude of 7,700 feet in stormy weather, the four engine airplane struck the slope of a mountain located near Quetame. The wreckage was found few hours later and all 21 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 in Villavicencio

Date & Time: Jun 25, 1981
Operator:
Registration:
FAC-1129
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Country:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Suffered an accident at Villavicencio-La Vanguardia Airport. There were no casualties and the airplane was written off.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-85-DL near Villavicencio

Date & Time: Oct 2, 1977
Operator:
Registration:
N98H
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
20061
YOM:
1944
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a drug smuggling flight when he was forced down by Colombian Air Force. The aircraft crash landed near Villavicencio. Both pilots were arrested and the airplane was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Forced down by Colombian Air Force during an illegal flight.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Yopal: 36 killed

Date & Time: Oct 25, 1976 at 0720 LT
Operator:
Registration:
HK-149
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Yopal - Villavicencio - Cúcuta
MSN:
4593
YOM:
1942
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
32
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
36
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Yopal Airport, while in initial climb, the left engine failed. The airplane rolled to the left, causing the left wingtip to struck the ground. Out of control, the airplane cartwheeled and crashed in flames. All 36 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left engine after takeoff for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 in the Sierra Nevada del Cocuy: 10 killed

Date & Time: Jul 26, 1975 at 1840 LT
Operator:
Registration:
FAC-654
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Saravena – Villavicencio – Bogotá
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
En route from Saravena to Villavicencio, the crew declared an emergency when control was lost and the airplane crashed on the slope of a mountain located in the Sierra Nevada del Cocuy. The aircraft was destroyed and all 10 occupants have been killed.

Crash of a Handley Page HPR-7 Dart Herald 101 in Villavicencio: 6 killed

Date & Time: Nov 2, 1973
Operator:
Registration:
HK-718
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Paz de Ariporo – Tame – Arauca – Cúcuta
MSN:
150
YOM:
1961
Country:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
When landing at Arauca (AUC) after a flight from Paz de Ariporo (PZA) and Tame (TME) a loss of hydraulic fluid was noted on the left main gear hydraulic system. A split hose was changed before the aircraft left for a flight to Cúcuta. Some 5 minutes after takeoff a burning smell and smoke were noticed in the cockpit. It appeared then that the undercarriage was still extended, though the undercarriage indicators in the cockpit didn't show this. The crew elected to divert to Villavicencio and made two low runs over the field to obtain instructions from the chief of maintenance and the airline's instructor. While on final approach to runway 22 the pilot was told by the instructor on the ground to feather the no. 1 engine as a precautionary measure. After passing the threshold at low altitude, power was reapplied and the aircraft turned slowly to the left, lost altitude and crashed in flames.
Source: ASN

Crash of a Douglas DC-3-228F in Yopal: 16 killed

Date & Time: Aug 22, 1973 at 1140 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HK-111
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Villavicencio - Yopal
MSN:
4105
YOM:
1941
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
16
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Villavicencio-La Vanguardia Airport at 1113LT on a 45 minutes flight to Yopal, carrying 14 passengers and a crew of three. On approach to Yopal, the pilots encountered poor visibility with fog when the airplane crashed on the slope of a hill (480 meters high) located few km from the airport. A passenger survived while 16 other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the crew was approaching Yopal Airport under VFR mode in IMC conditions.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina in Villavicencio: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 9, 1973 at 1500 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
HK-1020
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
1750
YOM:
1944
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
While approaching Villavicencio-La Vanguardia Airport following a test flight, the crew encountered engine problems and attempted an emergency landing when the seaplane crashed few km from the airport. A crew member was killed while two others were injured.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3A in the Las Palomas Mountain Range: 21 killed

Date & Time: Jul 29, 1972 at 0653 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HK-107
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Villavicencio – Paz de Ariporo – Arauca – Saravena
MSN:
11723
YOM:
1943
Flight number:
AV630
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
18
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
21
Circumstances:
At 0620LT, an Avianca Douglas DC-3A registered HK-107 departed Villavicencio-La Vanguardia Airport on flight AV630 to Saravena via Paz de Ariporo and Arauca with 18 passengers and a crew of three on board. Two minutes later, at 0622LT, a second Avianca Douglas DC-3A registered HK-1341 departed the same airport on a service to Las Gaviotas via Yopal, Trinidad and Orocué with 14 passengers and a crew of tree on board. While cruising by night over the Las Palomas Mountain Range, both aircraft collided and crashed in a mountainous terrain located about 75 km north of Villavicencio-La Vanguardia Airport. Both aircraft were destroyed and all 38 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the collision remains unclear.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3A in the Las Palomas Mountain Range: 17 killed

Date & Time: Jul 29, 1972 at 0653 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HK-1341
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Villavicencio – Yopal – Trinidad – Orocué – Las Gaviotas
MSN:
11716
YOM:
1943
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
17
Circumstances:
At 0620LT, an Avianca Douglas DC-3A registered HK-107 departed Villavicencio-La Vanguardia Airport on flight AV630 to Saravena via Paz de Ariporo and Arauca with 18 passengers and a crew of three on board. Two minutes later, at 0622LT, a second Avianca Douglas DC-3A registered HK-1341 departed the same airport on a service to Las Gaviotas via Yopal, Trinidad and Orocué with 14 passengers and a crew of tree on board. While cruising by night over the Las Palomas Mountain Range, both aircraft collided and crashed in a mountainous terrain located about 75 km north of Villavicencio-La Vanguardia Airport. Both aircraft were destroyed and all 38 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the collision remains unclear.