Crash of a Sud-Aviation SE-210 Caravelle VI-R in Bogotá

Date & Time: Jul 20, 1979
Operator:
Registration:
HK-1778
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bogotá - Cúcuta
MSN:
140
YOM:
1964
Country:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
51
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Bogotá-El Dorado Airport, while in initial climb, the captain contacted ATC, declared an emergency and was cleared to return. Following hydraulic problems, the landing on runway 12 was completed with the left main gear still retracted. The airplane slid on its left belly then veered off runway to the left and eventually came to rest against a bank. All 57 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. A loud bang in the rear of the cabin was heard after takeoff, followed by warning lights coming on in the cockpit panel. Due to the failure of the hydraulic system, the cabin pressure failed.

Crash of a Douglas DC-6A/B in the Sierra Nevada del Cocuy: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 8, 1978 at 1825 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HK-1707
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Port of Spain – Bogotá
MSN:
44687/535
YOM:
1954
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
En route on a cargo flight from Port of Spain to Bogotá, while in cruising altitude, the crew declared an emergency and reported an engine failure. The captain elected to divert to Tame Airport when the aircraft apparently crashed in the El Cocuy National Park. SAR operations were initiated but eventually abandoned as no trace of the aircraft nor the three crew members was found.
Crew:
Efrain Medina, pilot
Hernan Rios, copilot,
Nicanor Miranda, flight engineer.

Crash of a Douglas DC-4 near Valledupar: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 17, 1978
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Carrying a load of marijuana, the four engine airplane crashed in unknown circumstances near Valledupar. All three crew members were killed.

Crash of a Lockheed L-1049H Super Constellation in Riohacha: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 15, 1978
Registration:
N6924C
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
4852
YOM:
1958
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll at Riohacha-Almirante Padilla Airport, the crew inadvertently retracted the landing gear before liftoff. The airplane sank on its belly and crashed in flames. Two crew members were injured while the pilot was killed.
Probable cause:
Premature retraction of the landing gear during the takeoff roll, prior to liftoff.

Crash of a Beechcraft E18S in El Embrujo

Date & Time: Sep 13, 1978
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
HK-1850
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
BA-63
YOM:
1955
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane crashed upon landing in unclear circumstances. All 10 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. Poor runway conditions reported.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46F-1-CU Commando on Mt Páramo de Laura: 18 killed

Date & Time: Aug 14, 1978 at 1515 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HK-1350
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Bucaramanga - Leticia - La Paz
MSN:
22557
YOM:
1945
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
15
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
18
Circumstances:
While cruising in VFR mode in adverse weather conditions, the airplane struck the slope of Mt Páramo de Laura (3,543 meters high) located south of Sogamoso, Boyacá. The wreckage was found few hours later and all 18 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was the consequence of a controlled flight into terrain caused by the combination of the following (contributing) factors:
- Strong winds caused the airplane to be off course,
- The crew was flying under VFR mode in IMC conditions,
- Limited visibility,
- The airplane was not airworthy as two VOR receivers were missing and one ADF was unserviceable,
- There were 15 passengers on board while the aircraft was configured for six passengers only.

Crash of a Percival P.66 Pembroke in Ciénaga

Date & Time: Jul 30, 1978
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N51963
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
66
YOM:
1956
Country:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in a banana plantation near Ciéanaga while involved in an illegal flight. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 on Mt Kennedy: 8 killed

Date & Time: Jul 16, 1978 at 1655 LT
Operator:
Registration:
FAC-680
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Riohacha – Santa Marta – Barranquilla – Bogotá
Country:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The C-47 departed Riohacha Airport at 1615LT on a flight to Bogotá with intermediate stops in Santa Marta and Barranquilla. About five minutes before ETA, while cruising in low clouds, the airplane struck the slope of Mt Kennedy located about 22 km east of Santa Marta-Simon Bolivár Airport. The wreckage was found in an isolated area three days later and all eight occupants were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Jaime Sánchez Tocarruncho, pilot,
Lt Ramon Villanueva Rodriguez, copilot,
Cpt Jose Orlando Moscoso Valencia, navigator,
Cpt Edra Rincón TAvera, navigator,
Ezequiel Prada Rueda, mechanic,
Omar Hernán Linares Rifaldo, mechanic.
Passengers:
1st Lt Guillermo Leon Valencia Obando,
Sgt Ramiro Waldo Giraldo Ramirez.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Beechcraft D18S in Espinal: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 9, 1978
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
HK-2114X
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
A-1011
YOM:
1954
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a cargo flight from Tres Esquinas Airport. In unknown circumstances, the twin engine airplane crashed in the region of Espinal. The wreckage was found in an isolated area and both occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas DC-118A Liftmaster in Bogotá: 8 killed

Date & Time: Apr 29, 1978 at 1603 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HK-1705
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bogotá - Barranquilla
MSN:
43565
YOM:
1952
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Bogotá-El Dorado runway 30, the four engine airplane encountered difficulties to gain height. It struck an eucalyptus then stalled and crashed in a pasture located about one km from the airfield. Four occupants were injured while eight others were killed.
Probable cause:
It is believed that one of the four engine exploded during initial climb for unknown reasons.