Region
South America

Crash of a Beechcraft H18 in Paraguachón

Date & Time: Sep 26, 1980
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft H18
Operator:
National Bumper Exchange
Registration:
N9724Y
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Illegal (smuggling)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
BA-656
YOM:
1963
Location:
Paraguachón
La Guajira
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane was engaged in an illegal (contraband) flight. En route, the crew was forced to attempt an emergency landing due to a fuel exhaustion. The aircraft crash landed in Paraguachón, near the Colombia - Venezuela border. Both occupants escaped uninjured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Emergency landing due to fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-35-CU Commando off Riohacha

Date & Time: Sep 20, 1980
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
HI-197
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Illegal (smuggling)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Santo Domingo - Riohacha
MSN:
26716
YOM:
1943
Location:
Riohacha
La Guajira
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While approaching Riohacha-Almirante Padilla Airport, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea few hundred meters off shore. All six occupants were rescued while the airplane was damaged beyond repair. It was reported that the flight was illegal as the airplane and its crew were involved in a contraband mission.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL near Puerto Berrío: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 10, 1980 at 2130 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Aeronorte Colombia - Aerovias del Norte
Registration:
HK-329
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Barranquilla - Bogotá
MSN:
4404
YOM:
1942
Location:
Puerto Berrío
Antioquia
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Barranquilla-Ernesto Cortissoz Airport at 1930LT on a cargo flight to Bogotá. About two hours later, while cruising in poor weather conditions, the airplane went out of control, entered a dive and crashed in a wooded area located near Puerto Berrío. The wreckage was found few hours later and all three crew members were killed:
Crew:
Jaime Feged, pilot,
Arnovis Guarín, copilot,
Rafael Melo, mechanic.
Probable cause:
Loss of control while cruising in severe turbulences after one wing detached following rivets failure.

Crash of a Cessna 414 Chancellor in Bello

Date & Time: Jul 8, 1980
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 414 Chancellor
Operator:
Registration:
HK-2117-W
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Medellín – Bajo Cauca
MSN:
414-0920
YOM:
1976
Location:
Bello
Antioquia
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Medellín-Enrique Olaya Herrera Airport, while climbing, the pilot encountered engine problems. He attempted an emergency landing when the airplane crash landed in a field located near Bello, north of the airfield. All six occupants were able to evacuate the cabin before the aircraft would be totally destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
Engine failure for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3A in Bogotá: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 24, 1980
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
HK-2214
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Bogotá - Bogotá
MSN:
11627
YOM:
1943
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:
4
Circumstances:
The aircraft was engaged in a local test flight at Bogotá-El Dorado Airport, carrying four crew members, two pilots and two engineers. After passing over runway 12 at an altitude of about 200 feet, the pilot was able to send a brief mayday message when the airplane banked left and crashed in flames. The aircraft was destroyed and all four occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined. At impact, the left propeller was feathered while no technical anomalies was detected on the left engine. Nevertheless, it was determined that the forward bearing and connecting rod were seized on the right engine. It was also reported that the pilot-in-command was not qualified on such aircraft type.

Crash of a Cessna 421C Golden Eagle III near Plato

Date & Time: Dec 20, 1979
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 421C Golden Eagle III
Operator:
Horizon Partners
Registration:
N6814C
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Illegal (smuggling)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
421C-0472
YOM:
1978
Location:
Plato
Magdalena
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances on a mountain located in the region of Plato while engaged in an illegal flight. Both occupants were seriously injured.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 near Oroque: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 19, 1979
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter
Operator:
Anson Drilling Company
Registration:
HK-1710-W
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Barranquilla - Cúcuta
MSN:
252
YOM:
1969
Location:
Oroque
Norte de Santander
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew departed Barranquilla-Ernesto Cortissoz Airport under VFR mode. En route, weather conditions worsened and while cruising at 11,500 feet, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located near Oroque. The wreckage was found three days later and all four occupants were killed, among them two Mexican employees of the Anson Drilling Company, a Colombian Group specialized in Oil and Petroleum business.

Crash of a Douglas C-54D-10-DC Skymaster on Mt Toledo: 21 killed

Date & Time: Dec 18, 1979
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
FAC-1106
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Arauca - Cúcuta
MSN:
10853
YOM:
1945
Location:
Mt Toledo
Norte de Santander
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
21
Circumstances:
The four engine airplane was descending to Cúcuta-Camilo Daza Airport in limited visibility when, at an altitude of 3,400 meters, it struck the slope of Mt Toledo located about 35 km south from Cúcuta. The airplane was destroyed and all 21 occupants were killed, among them civilians.

Crash of a Grumman G-21A Goose off San Andrés Island: 9 killed

Date & Time: Nov 30, 1979 at 1030 LT
Type of aircraft:
Grumman G-21A Goose
Operator:
Aerolineas La Gaviola
Registration:
HK-2059
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
El Embrujo - San Andrés
MSN:
1019
YOM:
1938
Location:
San Andrés-Gustavo Rojas Pinilla
San Andrés, Providencia & Santa Catalina
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
While approaching San Andrés Island on a schedule flight from El Embrujo (Providencia), the seaplane crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea few km offshore. Despite intense SAR operations, the wreckage was never recovered.

Crash of an Avro 748-260-2A in Bogotá: 4 killed

Date & Time: Aug 22, 1979 at 0540 LT
Type of aircraft:
Avro 748
Operator:
Registration:
FAC-1101
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Illegal (smuggling)
Survivors:
No
Site:
City
MSN:
1702
YOM:
1971
Location:
Bogotá-El Dorado
Bogotá Capital District
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Parked at Bogotá-El Dorado Airport, the airplane was stolen by a 23 year old man who had been fired after working as a mechanic at the airport. Following a night takeoff, the pilot completed low passes when the airplane crashed into several houses located in a populated area near the airport. The aircraft and few houses were destroyed. The 'pilot' and three people on the ground were killed while seven others were injured.
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