Region
South America

Crash of a Douglas C-53D-DO Skytrooper in Cali

Date & Time: Aug 3, 1981
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-53 Skytrooper (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
FAC-1128
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Cali - Cali
MSN:
4824
YOM:
1941
Location:
Cali-Alfonso Bonilla Aragón (ex Palmaseca)
Valle del Cauca
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local post maintenance test flight at Cali-Palmaseca Airport. Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, one of the engine failed. The captain attempted an emergency landing when the airplane crashed on a farm near the airport. All four occupants were injured while there were no casualties on the ground.
Probable cause:
Engine failure after takeoff for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Douglas C-53D- DO Skytrooper in Cararú: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jul 25, 1981
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-53 Skytrooper (DC-3)
Operator:
Transamazonica
Registration:
HK-772
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
11743
YOM:
1943
Location:
Carurú
Vaupés
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
On approach to runway 29 at Carurú Airport, the captain decided to make a low pass to inspect the surface condition when the right engine started vibrating. The engine was shut down and its propeller was feathered. The crew initiated a right turn to land on runway 11 when the airplane lost speed, stalled and crashed about 500 meters short of runway. All three crew members and one passenger were killed while five other occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
Failure of the right engine on final for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 in Villavicencio

Date & Time: Jun 25, 1981
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
FAC-1129
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Villavicencio
Meta
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
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-40-DL in Miraflores: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 17, 1981
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
HK-1078
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
9884
YOM:
1943
Location:
Miraflores
Boyacá
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
On approach to Miraflores Airport, the crew was instructed to make a go-around as the runway was used by another aircraft. While in traffic pattern and positioning for a second approach, the crew declared an emergency after one of the engine failed. The propeller was feathered and the captain attempted an emergency landing when the airplane crashed near the airport. A crew member and one passenger were killed while all other occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
Engine failure for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Douglas DC-7CF in Colombia

Date & Time: Dec 31, 1980
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-7
Operator:
Aero Services - USA
Registration:
N8219H
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Illegal (smuggling)
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
45214/897
YOM:
1957
Location:
Colombia
All Colombia
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed somewhere in Colombia while on a drug smuggling flight after being shot down by the Colombian Army. The exact date remains unknown (somewhere in 1980) as well as the crew's fate.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the Colombian Army.

Crash of a Convair CV-440-38 Metropolitan in Colombia

Date & Time: Dec 31, 1980
Type of aircraft:
Convair CV-440 Metropolitan
Operator:
Farm-Kem
Registration:
N102US
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Illegal (smuggling)
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
378
YOM:
1956
Location:
Colombia
All Colombia
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances while trying to land on a remote airstrip somewhere in Colombia. The accident occurred somewhere in 1980 (the exact date remains unknown) during a drug smuggling flight.

Crash of a Sud-Aviation SE-210 Caravelle VI-R near Riohacha: 70 killed

Date & Time: Dec 21, 1980 at 1423 LT
Type of aircraft:
Sud-Aviation SE-210 Caravelle
Operator:
Transportes Aéreos del Caribe - TAC Colombia
Registration:
HK-1810
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Bogotá – Barranquilla – Valledupar – Riohacha – Medellín – Bogotá
MSN:
165
YOM:
1963
Location:
Riohacha
La Guajira
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
63
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
70
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Riohacha-Almirante Padilla Airport at 1418LT on a flight to Medellín. After takeoff, while climbing, the pilot contacted ATC and reported technical problems as well as an explosion on board. The airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in a stonepit locate few km from the airport. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 70 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that an explosion occurred on board during climb but investigations were unable to determine if this explosion was the consequence of a bomb detonation or not.

Crash of a Boeing 707-321F in Bogotá

Date & Time: Dec 20, 1980
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 707
Operator:
Registration:
HK-2410
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Miami - Bogotá
MSN:
17605/98
YOM:
1960
Location:
Bogotá-El Dorado
Bogotá Capital District
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to runway 12, the airplane entered a zone of heavy rain falls and dense fog. The pilot-in-command probably lost visual contact with the runway and its lighting system, causing the aircraft to descend until it struck the ground. Upon impact, the airplane lost its undercarriage and came to rest, broken in several pieces and bursting into flames. All four crew members were injured.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-35-DL on Mt El Boquerón: 20 killed

Date & Time: Nov 24, 1980 at 1547 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Colombian Government
Registration:
HK-1221G
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Government
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Turbo – Medellín
MSN:
9703
YOM:
1943
Location:
Mt El Boquerón
Antioquia
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
20
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Turbo on a flight to Medellín, carrying employees of the Colombian Customs Services (Direccion General de Aduanas). While descending to the altitude of 9,500 feet in marginal weather conditions, the airplane struck the slope of Mt El Boquerón located about 100 km northwest of Medellín Airport. The wreckage was found few hours later and all 20 occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, the mountain was shrouded by clouds.
Probable cause:
The crew was flying under VFR mode in IMC when the airplane struck the mountain. Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 near San José del Guaviare

Date & Time: Nov 13, 1980 at 1338 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
FAC-1131
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
San José del Guaviare - Bogotá
Location:
San José del Guaviare
Guaviare
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
19
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After takeoff from San José del Guaviare Airport, the crew declared an emergency following an engine failure. The captain attempted an emergency landing on Mt Las Lajas when the airplane crash landed eight minutes after takeoff. All 23 occupants escaped with minor injuries while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Engine failure for unknown reasons.
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