Region
South America

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-10-CU Commando near Cochabamba: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 24, 1975
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
CP-1063
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
32959
YOM:
1944
Location:
Cochabamba
Cochabamba
Country:
Bolivia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While descending to Cochabamba-Jorge Wilsterman Airport in marginal weather conditions, the airplane struck the slope of Mt Machu Sayari (4,350 meters high) located few km from the city of Cochabamba. The wreckage was found few days later and all four crew members have been killed. At the time of the accident, the visibility was limited due to low clouds.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the crew started the descent prematurely, causing the aircraft to fly below the minimum descent altitude.

Crash of a Convair CV-440-86 Metropolitan in Cerdas

Date & Time: Mar 26, 1975
Type of aircraft:
Convair CV-440 Metropolitan
Operator:
San Francisco Servicios Aéreos
Registration:
CP-1078
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
415
YOM:
1957
Location:
Cerdas
Potosí
Country:
Bolivia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane belly landed at Cerdas Airport for unknown reason. All three crew members escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46-A-5-CU Commando in Beni: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 10, 1975
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
CP-992
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Trinidad - Beni
MSN:
26433
YOM:
1943
Location:
Beni
Beni
Country:
Bolivia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
On approach to Beni Airport, the airplane struck a hill located few km short of runway. All three occupants were killed.

Crash of a North American B-25J Mitchell near Cochabamba: 9 killed

Date & Time: Feb 26, 1975
Type of aircraft:
North American B-25 Mitchell
Operator:
Registration:
FAB-545
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Cochabamba - Cochabamba
Location:
Cochabamba
Cochabamba
Country:
Bolivia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
While completing an exercice out from Cochabamba, the airplane struck the slope of Mt San Pedro. All nine crew members were killed.

Crash of a Convair CV-440-59 Metropolitan near San Borja: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 7, 1975
Type of aircraft:
Convair CV-440 Metropolitan
Operator:
Registration:
CP-961
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
San Borja - La Paz
MSN:
467
YOM:
1958
Location:
San Borja-Capitán Germán Quiroga Guardia
Beni
Country:
Bolivia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
25
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from San Borja-Capitán Germán Quiroga Guardia Airport, the crew informed ATC about a hydraulic leak on the right engine and was cleared to return. While descending, the crew was unable to maintain a safe altitude and decided to attempt an emergency landing in an open field. On touchdown, the tail separated and the airplane came to rest in flames. A passenger was killed while 28 other occupants were evacuated, some of them were injured.

Crash of a Lockheed C-141A-LM Starlifter near La Paz: 7 killed

Date & Time: Aug 18, 1974
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed C-141 Starlifter
Operator:
Registration:
65-0274
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Howard - La Paz
MSN:
6126
YOM:
1965
Location:
La Paz
La Paz
Country:
Bolivia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Aircraft flight hours:
16339
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a flight from Howard AFN, Panama, to La Paz. While descending to La Paz-El Alto Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with limited visibility due to clouds from 700 to 24,000 feet. The crew informed ATC about his position about three minutes from La Paz VOR when he was cleared to descend from 24,000 to 18,000 feet. Shortly later, while flying at an altitude of 18,700 feet, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain (20,000 feet high) located 28 km north of El Alto Airport. The airplane disintegrated on impact and all seven crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was the consequence of a controlled flight into terrain probably caused by a navigational error on part of the crew or a wrong instruments interpretation while descending in marginal weather conditions. The crew probably thought he was above the La Paz VOR when in reality, the airplane was few km to the east of this VOR.

Crash of a Lockheed 18-56 LodeStar near Normandia

Date & Time: Mar 3, 1974
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 18 LodeStar
Operator:
L. Eduardo
Registration:
CP-1024
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
2489
YOM:
1943
Location:
Normandia
Beni
Country:
Bolivia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route, the right engine caught fire. The crew decided to reduce his altitude and attempted an emergency landing. The airplane crash landed in an open field and came to rest in flames. While both occupants escaped uninjured, the aircraft was destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
Right engine fire in flight.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-45-CU Commando near San Ignacio de Moxos: 7 killed

Date & Time: Feb 23, 1974
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
CP-1052
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Trinidad - Oruro
MSN:
30195
YOM:
1944
Location:
San Ignacio de Moxos
Beni
Country:
Bolivia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
En route from Trinidad to Oruro, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with turbulences when control was lost. The airplane crashed on the slope of a mountain located in the region of San Ignacio de Moxos. The wreckage was found two days later and all seven occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the ropes securing the cargo failed while the aircraft was subject to atmospheric turbulences, causing the CofG to be modified and the cargo to shift. In such conditions, the airplane became uncontrollable.
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