Region
South America

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-60-DL in Bogotá

Date & Time: Feb 8, 1986 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
HK-3031
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Bogotá – Paipa
MSN:
10202
YOM:
1943
Location:
Bogotá-El Dorado
Bogotá Capital District
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Bogotá-El Dorado Airport, while climbing, the crew declared an emergency as the left engine failed. The captain initiated a left turn when the left wingtip struck tree tops. The aircraft lost speed and crashed, bursting into flames. All five occupants were rescued while the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left engine during initial climb for unknown reasons. The crew was able to feather the left propeller but the aircraft lost height during the last turn.

Crash of a Cessna 402 on Mt Nevado del Tolima: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 26, 1986
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 402
Operator:
Registration:
HK-2329P
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Panama City - Bogotá
Location:
Mt Nevado del Tolima
Tolima
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While cruising at an altitude of 18,000 feet in marginal weather conditions, the twin engine aircraft struck the slope of Mt Nevado del Tolima. All four occupants were killed.

Crash of a Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain in Venado-Isana: 9 killed

Date & Time: Dec 18, 1985
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain
Operator:
Interamericana de Aviacion
Registration:
HK-1795
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Illegal (smuggling)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Bogotá – Caranacoa
MSN:
31-7652099
YOM:
1976
Location:
Venado-Isana
Vaupés
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed Bogotá-El Dorado Airport on a flight to Caranacoa, carrying one passenger and two pilots. Apparently for illegal reasons, the airplane landed in Venado-Isana where six FARC rebels planed. The aircraft crashed after takeoff in unknown circumstances, killing all nine occupants. The wreckage was found mid March 1986.

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo in Bogotá: 5 killed

Date & Time: Oct 23, 1985
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-310 Navajo
Operator:
Transportes Aéreos Tropicales - TAT Colombia
Registration:
HK-1590
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
City
MSN:
31-410
YOM:
1968
Location:
Bogotá-El Dorado
Bogotá Capital District
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Bogotá-El Dorado Airport, while in initial climb, the twin engine airplane lost height and crashed in a residential area. The aircraft was destroyed and all five occupants were killed. Two people on the ground were seriously injured.
Probable cause:
Loss of control during initial climb following an engine failure for unknown reasons.

Crash of an Embraer EMB-110P1 Bandeirante in Villagarzón

Date & Time: Aug 4, 1985
Type of aircraft:
Embraer EMB-110 Bandeirante
Operator:
Registration:
HK-2593
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Villa Garzón - Puerto Asís
MSN:
110-302
YOM:
1980
Location:
Villagarzón
Putumayo
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll, the right engine failed and exploded. The crew abandoned the takeoff procedure when the aircraft went out of control. It veered off runway and collided with trees located about 1,600 meters from the end of the runway. The aircraft was destroyed while all 16 occupants were rescued, among them five were injured.
Probable cause:
Failure and explosion of the right engine during takeoff for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Douglas DC-6B near Leticia: 80 killed

Date & Time: Jul 24, 1985 at 1700 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-6
Operator:
Registration:
FAC-902
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Leticia - Bogotá
MSN:
45067
YOM:
1956
Location:
Leticia
Amazonas
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
76
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
80
Circumstances:
Some aircraft operated by the Colombian Air Force were requisitioned to carry out regular schedule flights on behalf of Avianca because their pilots were striking. Few minutes after takeoff from Leticia-Alfredo Vásquez Cobo Airport, the pilot declared an emergency after the engine n°3 caught fire. While returning, fire spread to the right wing and the airplane went out of control and crashed in a jungle located 32 km north of the airport. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 80 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Failure of the n°3 engine for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3A in Villavicencio: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 7, 1985 at 1255 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
HK-1340
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Villavicencio – Carurú
MSN:
11704
YOM:
1943
Location:
Villavicencio
Meta
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Villavicencio-La Vanguardia Airport, while climbing, the right engine caught fire. The aircraft lost height then struck trees and crashed few km from the airport, bursting into flames. Three occupants were killed while three others were seriously injured.
Probable cause:
It is believed the right engine failed because the total weight of the aircraft was well above the MTOW.

Crash of a Cessna T303 Crusader near Pueblo Rico: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 5, 1985
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 303 Crusader
Operator:
Registration:
HK-2961P
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Illegal (smuggling)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
303-00161
YOM:
1982
Location:
Pueblo Rico
Risaralda
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While cruising in marginal weather conditions, the twin engine airplane struck the slope of Mt La Linea located in the region of Pueblo Rico. The aircraft was destroyed and all three occupants were killed. They were engaged in an drug smuggling flight.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Fokker F28 Fellowship 3000 in Florencia: 46 killed

Date & Time: Mar 28, 1985 at 0950 LT
Type of aircraft:
Fokker F28 Fellowship
Operator:
Registration:
FAC-1140
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Bogotá – Neiva – San Vicente del Caguán – Florencia
MSN:
11165
YOM:
1981
Location:
Florencia
Caquetá
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
40
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
46
Aircraft flight hours:
1327
Aircraft flight cycles:
2288
Circumstances:
En route from San Vicente del Caguán to Florencia, the last leg of the trip, the crew was informed that the Florencia-Gustavo Artunduaga Paredes Airport was closed to traffic due to insufficient visibility caused by dense fog. Nevertheless, the crew attempted an approach and initiated a descent. The last radio contact was recorded 10 minutes prior to the accident when the aircraft was at an altitude of 3,600 feet. On final, the aircraft struck the slope of a mountain shrouded in clouds and located 15 km from the airport. The aircraft was totally destroyed upon impact and all 46 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was the consequence of a controlled flight into terrain after the crew decided to continue the approach in below-minima weather conditions.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 on Mt El Plateado: 23 killed

Date & Time: Jan 23, 1985 at 1035 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter
Operator:
Registration:
HK-1910
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Quibdó – Medellín
MSN:
497
YOM:
1976
Flight number:
VX052
Location:
Mt El Plateado
Chocó
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
20
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
23
Circumstances:
En route from Quibdó to Medellín, the crew encountered marginal weather conditions with mist and intermittent rain falls. While cruising at an altitude of 11,500 feet, the aircraft struck the slope of Mt El Plateado located in the northeast part of the Chocó province, about 66 km northeast of Quibdó. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and all 23 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain after the crew decided to continue under VFR mode in IMC conditions.
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