Region
South America

Crash of a Douglas C-47 in El Doncello: 23 killed

Date & Time: Jan 8, 1975 at 0830 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
FAC-688
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Neiva – San Vicente del Caguán – Puerto Rico – Florencia
Location:
El Doncello
Caquetá
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
19
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
23
Circumstances:
The aircraft was completing a flight from Neiva to Florencia with intermediate stops in San Vicente del Caguán and Puerto Rico, Caquetá. Few minutes after takeoff from Puerto Rico, while cruising in marginal weather conditions, the airplane crashed in a mountain terrain located near El Doncello. The aircraft was destroyed and all 23 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Cessna 421A Golden Eagle I in Medellín

Date & Time: Dec 8, 1974
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 421A Golden Eagle I
Operator:
International Leasing Corporation
Registration:
N827AB
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
421A-0101
YOM:
1968
Location:
Medellín-Enrique Olaya Herrera
Antioquia
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
A double engine failure in flight forced the pilot to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft crashed in flames on a golf course located by the Medellín-Enrique Olaya Herrera Airport. There were no injuries but the aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure in flight for undetermined reason.

Crash of a Cessna 421A Golden Eagle I in Bogotá: 6 killed

Date & Time: Nov 21, 1974 at 1847 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 421A Golden Eagle I
Operator:
Registration:
HK-646-W
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Cali - Bogotá
MSN:
421A-0136
YOM:
1968
Location:
Bogotá-El Dorado
Bogotá Capital District
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed Cali-Alfonso Bonilla Aragón Airport at 1742LT on a flight to Bogotá with five passengers and a pilot on board. On final approach to Bogotá-El Dorado Airport, a passenger informed ATC that the pilot suffered a heart attack and was trying to land. Shortly later, the airplane entered a dive and crashed in flames. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all six occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control on approach after the pilot suffered a heart attack.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL near Buenaventura: 27 killed

Date & Time: Aug 12, 1974 at 1000 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
HK-508
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Tumaco - Cali
MSN:
4527
YOM:
1942
Flight number:
AV610
Location:
Buenaventura
Valle del Cauca
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
24
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
27
Circumstances:
The crew departed Tumaco-La Florida Airport at 0825LT with an ETA in Cali at 0955LT. En route, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with a limited visibility due to rain falls. The airplane deviated from the prescribed flight plan when, at an altitude of 9,670 feet, it struck the slope of Mt Trujillo located in the region of Buenaventura, about 75 km northwest of Cali Airport. SAR operations were suspended after few days as no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found. Eventually, the wreckage was found in a ravine on October 31st 1974. All 27 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Martin 404 in Mariquita: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 7, 1974 at 1400 LT
Type of aircraft:
Martin 404
Operator:
Aero Proveedora Proa
Registration:
HK-1485
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Mariquita - Mariquita
MSN:
14237
YOM:
1952
Location:
Mariquita
Tolima
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training flight at Mariquita Airport. On final approach, the instructor simulated an engine failure and reduced the power on the left engine when the pilot-in-command lost control of the airplane that stalled and crashed 500 meters short of runway 18 threshold. Two pilots were killed while four others were injured.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the accident was the consequence of a poor crew coordination while the instructor failed to supervise properly the pilot under training. He also failed to pay sufficient attention to the approach configuration and failed to realize that the approach speed was too low.

Crash of a Douglas DC-4 in El Libano: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 24, 1974 at 0945 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-4
Operator:
Aeronorte Colombia - Aerovias del Norte
Registration:
HK-728
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Bogotá - Barranquilla
MSN:
10507
YOM:
1945
Location:
El Libano
Santander
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While cruising at an altitude of 12,000 feet in marginal weather conditions, the four engine airplane stuck the slope of a mountain located near El Libano, about 140 km north of Bogotá. All three crew members were killed. At the time of the accident, the mountain was shrouded in clouds.

Crash of a Vickers 785D Viscount near Cúcuta: 44 killed

Date & Time: Jun 8, 1974 at 1427 LT
Type of aircraft:
Vickers Viscount
Operator:
Registration:
HK-1058
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Bogotá – Bucaramanga – Cúcuta
MSN:
380
YOM:
1958
Flight number:
TAO514
Location:
Cúcuta-Camilo Daza
Norte de Santander
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
38
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
44
Circumstances:
While descending to Cúcuta-Camilo Daza Airport in good weather conditions at an altitude of 7,000 feet, the four engine airplane went out of control and crashed on the slope of Mt San Isidro located near the Colombia - Venezuela border. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 44 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Aircraft structure factor - tail unit, involving the failure in flight of the tailplane spar, so that the left tailplane and elevator became detached and control of the aircraft was lost. An examination of the aircraft wreckage revealed that the upper flange of the left tailplane spar had sustained a fatigue fracture, two distinct areas being visible, namely the area of progressive fatigue and the area of instantaneous failure. This evidence obviously explained the accident, since the already weakened structure was not able to withstand the loads imposed when the aircraft entered an area of turbulence. Laboratory tests subsequently carried out confirmed the failure.

Crash of a Douglas TC-47B-20-DK near Cali

Date & Time: Feb 23, 1974
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Taxi Aéreo El Llanero
Registration:
HK-1333
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
15606/27051
YOM:
1945
Location:
Cali
Valle del Cauca
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from Cali-Palmaseca Airport at noon, while passing over Marmato beacon, the right engine failed. The crew was unable to feather the propeller when the engine caught fire. After few seconds, the crew was able to extinguish the fire and to feather the propeller but as the airplane lost too much altitude, the captain decided to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed in a field located few km from the airport and came to rest. While both pilots were uninjured, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Detachment of an engine cowling in flight followed by the failure of the cylinder n°5 on the right engine.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3A-191 near Chigorodó: 12 killed

Date & Time: Jan 17, 1974 at 1315 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
HK-1216
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Turbo – Chigorodó – Medellín
MSN:
1905
YOM:
1937
Location:
Chigorodó
Antioquia
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
The airplane was completing a flight from Turbo to Medellín with an intermediate stop in Chigorodó. It departed Chigorodó Airport at 1255LT bound to the south and the crew was cleared to climb to 11,500 feet. About 20 minutes later, the pilot declared an emergency when control was lost. The wreckage was found in a mountainous terrain and all 12 occupants were killed.

Crash of an Avro 748-260-2A near Florencia: 32 killed

Date & Time: Jan 9, 1974 at 1640 LT
Type of aircraft:
Avro 748
Operator:
Registration:
FAC-1103
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Bucaramanga – Florencia – Bogotá
MSN:
1704
YOM:
1971
Location:
Florencia
Caquetá
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
29
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
32
Circumstances:
Ten minutes after takeoff from Florencia-Gustavo Artunduaga Paredes Airport, while climbing in marginal weather conditions, the twin engine airplane struck the slope of Mt Gabinete (3,500 meters high) located about 34 km northwest of Florencia. The wreckage was found in a wooded 200 meters below the summit and all 32 occupants have been killed.
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