Region
South America

Crash of a Lockheed 18-56 LodeStar in Bogotá

Date & Time: Jan 5, 1974 at 1516 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 18 LodeStar
Operator:
Registration:
HK-1146
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Bogotá - Flandes - Bogotá
MSN:
2327
YOM:
1943
Location:
Bogotá-El Dorado
Bogotá Capital District
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew (three pilots under supervision and two instructors) departed Bogotá-El Dorado Airport in the early morning on a training flight to Flandes, Tolima. Several touch and go maneuvers were completed at Flandes Airport and during the last takeoff, the undercarriage failed to retract after the hydraulic system failed. On approach to Bogotá-El Dorado, the crew was unable to lower the flaps thus a flapless landing was completed on runway 12. After touchdown, the airplane was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overran and came to rest in a drainage ditch. All five occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
It was determined that a pressure line in the hydraulic system was broken in the right landing gear well, causing a leak of hydraulic fluid. This caused the brakes to be ineffective as well.

Crash of a Handley Page HPR-7 Dart Herald 101 in Villavicencio: 6 killed

Date & Time: Nov 2, 1973
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page HPR-7 Dart Herald
Operator:
Registration:
HK-718
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Paz de Ariporo – Tame – Arauca – Cúcuta
MSN:
150
YOM:
1961
Location:
Villavicencio
Meta
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
When landing at Arauca (AUC) after a flight from Paz de Ariporo (PZA) and Tame (TME) a loss of hydraulic fluid was noted on the left main gear hydraulic system. A split hose was changed before the aircraft left for a flight to Cúcuta. Some 5 minutes after takeoff a burning smell and smoke were noticed in the cockpit. It appeared then that the undercarriage was still extended, though the undercarriage indicators in the cockpit didn't show this. The crew elected to divert to Villavicencio and made two low runs over the field to obtain instructions from the chief of maintenance and the airline's instructor. While on final approach to runway 22 the pilot was told by the instructor on the ground to feather the no. 1 engine as a precautionary measure. After passing the threshold at low altitude, power was reapplied and the aircraft turned slowly to the left, lost altitude and crashed in flames.
Source: ASN

Crash of a Curtiss C-46F-1-CU Commando off Cartagena

Date & Time: Oct 26, 1973 at 1850 LT
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
HK-1383
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Barranquilla – San Andrés
MSN:
22522
YOM:
1945
Location:
Cartagena
Bolívar
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After it departed Barranquilla Airport, while cruising over the Caribbean Sea at an altitude of 10,000 feet, the left engine caught fire. The crew activated the fire extinguishing system but the was unable to feather the propeller due to a technical issue. Due increase speed and avoid any stall, the captain plunged and the passenger jettisoned the cargo. Eventually, the crew was forced to ditch the airplane into the Caribbean Sea about 34 km off Cartagena. The aircraft sank within four minutes and was lost while all three occupants were rescued.
Probable cause:
Powerplant fire and failure of the feathering system which led to critical flight conditions when the prop began windmilling. The following factors were reported:
- The aircraft was overloaded by 1,167 kilos,
- The crew was not aware of the load prior to departure.

Crash of a Lockheed L-188A Electra in Bogotá: 42 killed

Date & Time: Aug 27, 1973 at 0745 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-188 Electra
Operator:
Registration:
HK-777
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Bogotá – Cartagena – Barranquilla – San Andres
MSN:
1115
YOM:
1959
Location:
Bogotá-El Dorado
Bogotá Capital District
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
36
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
42
Circumstances:
After takeoff from runway 12 at Bogotá-El Dorado Airport, while in initial climb in limited visibility, the four engine airplane struck the slope of Mt El Cable located 11 km southeast of the airport. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 42 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the crew failed to follow the departure procedures and that initial climb was completed with an erroneous track. The lack of visibility due to fog was considered as a contributing factor.

Crash of a Beechcraft 65-B80 Queen Air in Dagua: 11 killed

Date & Time: Aug 26, 1973
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft 80 Queen Air
Operator:
Aerovias Regionales
Registration:
HK-1093
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Tumaco - Cali
MSN:
LD-292
YOM:
1966
Location:
Dagua
Valle del Cauca
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
En route from Tumaco to Cali, the twin engine airplane struck the slope of Mt Las Cruces located in the region of Dagua, some 28 km northwest of Cali. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and all 11 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3-228F in Yopal: 16 killed

Date & Time: Aug 22, 1973 at 1140 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
HK-111
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Villavicencio - Yopal
MSN:
4105
YOM:
1941
Location:
Yopal
Casanare
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
16
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Villavicencio-La Vanguardia Airport at 1113LT on a 45 minutes flight to Yopal, carrying 14 passengers and a crew of three. On approach to Yopal, the pilots encountered poor visibility with fog when the airplane crashed on the slope of a hill (480 meters high) located few km from the airport. A passenger survived while 16 other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the crew was approaching Yopal Airport under VFR mode in IMC conditions.

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo in Yavi

Date & Time: Aug 22, 1973
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-310 Navajo
Operator:
Transportes Aéreos Tropicales - TAT Colombia
Registration:
HK-1591
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Barranquilla - Yavi
MSN:
31-379
YOM:
1969
Location:
Yavi
Tolima
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After landing at Yavi Airport, the twin engine airplane went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest in a ditch. There were no casualties.

Crash of an Avro 748-2A-245 in Bucaramanga: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 5, 1973
Type of aircraft:
Avro 748
Operator:
Registration:
HK-1408
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Medellín – Bucaramanga
MSN:
1657
YOM:
1968
Location:
Bucaramanga-Gomez Niño
Santander
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
40
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew completed the approach and landing in heavy rain falls. The airplane landed 469 meters past the threshold on a very wet runway 10. After touchdown, the airplane veered to the left then contacted soft ground after a course of 312 meters and eventually crashed into several houses located in the district of San Gerardo. All 44 occupants were evacuated, among them seven were injured. The aircraft was written off. On the ground, three children aged 7, 11 and 12 were killed.
Probable cause:
Lost of control after touchdown due to aquaplaning.

Crash of a Beechcraft C-45H Expeditor near Puerto Berrío: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jun 26, 1973 at 0725 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor
Operator:
Registration:
HK-1147
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Medellín – Puerto Berrío
MSN:
AF-614
YOM:
1954
Location:
Puerto Berrío
Antioquia
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
While cruising in marginal weather conditions, the twin engine airplane crashed in a mountainous area located 40 km west of Puerto Berrío. The copilot and a passenger survived while five other occupants were killed.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina in Villavicencio: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 9, 1973 at 1500 LT
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Lineas Aéreas Interiores de Catalina
Registration:
HK-1020
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
1750
YOM:
1944
Location:
Villavicencio
Meta
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
While approaching Villavicencio-La Vanguardia Airport following a test flight, the crew encountered engine problems and attempted an emergency landing when the seaplane crashed few km from the airport. A crew member was killed while two others were injured.
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