Region
South America

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

Date & Time: Apr 29, 1978 at 1603 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-118 Liftmaster
Operator:
Registration:
HK-1705
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Bogotá - Barranquilla
MSN:
43565
YOM:
1952
Location:
Bogotá-El Dorado
Bogotá Capital District
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
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.

Crash of a Convair CV-300 near Unguía

Date & Time: Apr 1, 1978
Type of aircraft:
Convair CV-240
Operator:
Thrifty Threads
Registration:
N777DC
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Panama City - Bogotá
MSN:
141
YOM:
1949
Location:
Unguía
Chocó
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route from Panama City to Bogotá, the crew was forced to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed in the Unguía lagoon and came to rest. Both pilots escaped uninjured while the aircraft was written off. It was reported that the crew was not authorized to enter the Colombian airspace.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.104 Dove 5BA off Santa Marta: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 12, 1978
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.104 Dove
Operator:
Aircraft Brokers
Registration:
N4959N
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Delivery
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
04311
YOM:
1951
Location:
Santa Marta-Simón Bolívar
Magdalena
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
En route to Colombia on a delivery flight, the crew informed ATC about an engine failure and was cleared to divert to Santa Marta-Simón Bolívar Airport for an emergency landing. Few minutes later, the twin engine airplane went out of control and crashed into the sea few km off Santa Marta. The aircraft sank and both occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure in-flight for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 on Mt San Vicente: 5 killed

Date & Time: Feb 21, 1978
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
FAC-668
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Cimitarra – Bucaramanga
Location:
Mt San Vicente (Serranía de Los Cobardes)
Santander
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was returning to Bucaramanga-Palonegro Airport after military personnel have been dropped off in Cimitarra for the upcoming elections. En route, the airplane struck the slope of Mt San Vicente located in the Cordillera de los Cobardes (Serranía Los Cobardes). The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and all five occupants were killed.
Crew:
Cpt José Francisco López Rodriguez, pilot,
Lt Hernán Bravo Bustamante, copilot,
Fernando Hincapié Gómez, technician,
Euledonio Roa Bautista, technician,
Luis Gerardo Maffia Benavides, technician.

Crash of a Mitsubishi MU-2J Marquise near Neiva: 5 killed

Date & Time: Feb 12, 1978
Type of aircraft:
Mitsubishi MU-2 Marquise
Operator:
New World Aviation Corporation
Registration:
N888MA
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Neiva - La Macarena
MSN:
550
YOM:
1972
Location:
Neiva
Huila
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from Neiva-Benito Salas Airport, the twin engine airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in a mountainous area. The wreckage and the five occupants were never found.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-3D in San Vicente del Caguán: 12 killed

Date & Time: Jan 28, 1978 at 1350 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
HK-1351
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Neiva - San Vicente del Caguán
MSN:
42958
YOM:
1946
Location:
San Vicente del Caguán
Caquetá
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
While descending to San Vicente del Caguán Airport, the crew encountered marginal weather conditions with low clouds. At an altitude of 6,800 feet, the airplane struck the slope of Mt Granada covered by clouds. The aircraft was destroyed and all 12 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A Trislander III-1 in Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta

Date & Time: Jan 9, 1978 at 0855 LT
Type of aircraft:
Britten-Norman Trislander
Operator:
Registration:
HK-1711
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Barranquilla – Valledupar
MSN:
1002
YOM:
1974
Location:
Ciénaga
Magdalena
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The three engine airplane departed Barranquilla-Ernesto Cortissoz Airport at 0820LT on a regular schedule service to Valledupar, carrying 16 passengers and a crew of two. About half an hour into the flight, the right engine lost power and failed. unable to maintain the prescribed altitude, the crew attempted an emergency landing and ditched the airplane in shallow water in the Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta lagoon. All 18 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Failure of the right engine for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Vickers 837 Viscount in Bucaramanga

Date & Time: Dec 14, 1977
Type of aircraft:
Vickers Viscount
Operator:
Registration:
HK-1267
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Barrancabermeja – Bucaramanga
MSN:
441
YOM:
1960
Location:
Bucaramanga-Palonegro
Santander
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
18
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
For unknown reasons, the four engine airplane landed hard at Bucaramanga-Palonegro Airport and bounced several times before landing firmly on the last third of the runway. Aware that he would be unable to stop the airplane within the remaining distance, the captain decided to veer off runway and made a sharp turn to the right when both left main gear and nose gear collapsed. Both left engines struck the ground and the airplane veered off runway and came to rest. All 22 occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-30-DK in Bogotá

Date & Time: Nov 20, 1977
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
FAC-1127
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
16290/33038
YOM:
1945
Location:
Bogotá
Bogotá Capital District
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. Crew fate unknown.
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