Region
South America

Crash of a Douglas DC-3A in the Las Palomas Mountain Range: 21 killed

Date & Time: Jul 29, 1972 at 0653 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
HK-107
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Villavicencio – Paz de Ariporo – Arauca – Saravena
MSN:
11723
YOM:
1943
Flight number:
AV630
Location:
Mt Las Palomas
Meta
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
18
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
21
Circumstances:
At 0620LT, an Avianca Douglas DC-3A registered HK-107 departed Villavicencio-La Vanguardia Airport on flight AV630 to Saravena via Paz de Ariporo and Arauca with 18 passengers and a crew of three on board. Two minutes later, at 0622LT, a second Avianca Douglas DC-3A registered HK-1341 departed the same airport on a service to Las Gaviotas via Yopal, Trinidad and Orocué with 14 passengers and a crew of tree on board. While cruising by night over the Las Palomas Mountain Range, both aircraft collided and crashed in a mountainous terrain located about 75 km north of Villavicencio-La Vanguardia Airport. Both aircraft were destroyed and all 38 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the collision remains unclear.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3A in the Las Palomas Mountain Range: 17 killed

Date & Time: Jul 29, 1972 at 0653 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
HK-1341
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Villavicencio – Yopal – Trinidad – Orocué – Las Gaviotas
MSN:
11716
YOM:
1943
Location:
Mt Las Palomas
Meta
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
17
Circumstances:
At 0620LT, an Avianca Douglas DC-3A registered HK-107 departed Villavicencio-La Vanguardia Airport on flight AV630 to Saravena via Paz de Ariporo and Arauca with 18 passengers and a crew of three on board. Two minutes later, at 0622LT, a second Avianca Douglas DC-3A registered HK-1341 departed the same airport on a service to Las Gaviotas via Yopal, Trinidad and Orocué with 14 passengers and a crew of tree on board. While cruising by night over the Las Palomas Mountain Range, both aircraft collided and crashed in a mountainous terrain located about 75 km north of Villavicencio-La Vanguardia Airport. Both aircraft were destroyed and all 38 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the collision remains unclear.

Crash of a Douglas C-53 in Pivijay

Date & Time: Jul 21, 1972 at 1225 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-53 Skytrooper (DC-3)
Operator:
Acme Leasing
Registration:
N39393
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Panama City - Oranjestad
MSN:
4943
YOM:
1942
Location:
Pivijay
Magdalena
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While on a cargo flight from Panama City to Oranjestad, Aruba, the crew reported a smell of burning in the cabin and elected to divert to Pivijay Airport for an emergency landing. After touchdown on a 850 meters long runway, the airplane was unable to stop within the remaining distance and overran. It struck a perimeter fence and came to rest in a field. While both pilots were unhurt, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Forced landing on airport following smell of burning in flight. The source of the fire could not be determined. It was reported that the crew landed too far down the runway, causing the braking distance to be insufficient.
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver in Gilgal

Date & Time: May 29, 1972 at 1000 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver
Operator:
Registration:
HK-1135
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
721
YOM:
1954
Location:
Gilgal
Chocó
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Gilgal, while climbing, the single engine airplane stalled and crashed in a field. All seven occupants were injured and the airplane was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control after cargo shifted during initial climb.

Crash of a Handley Page HPR-7 Dart Herald 101 in Valledupar

Date & Time: May 7, 1972 at 1535 LT
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page HPR-7 Dart Herald
Operator:
Registration:
HK-721
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Maicao – Valledupar – Barrancabermeja – Bogotá
MSN:
152
YOM:
1962
Location:
Valledupar
Cesar
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
28
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Valledupar-Alfonso Lopez Pumarejo Airport at 1530LT bound for Barrancabermeja on a flight from Maicao to Bogotá. During initial climb, the crew reported technical problems with the left engine that failed and was cleared to return to Valledupar for a safe landing. On final approach to runway 02, the captain attempted an emergency landing when the airplane crash landed 900 meters short of runway threshold. All 32 occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left engine shortly after takeoff for undetermined reason.

Crash of a Fairchild F27 near Valledupar: 19 killed

Date & Time: Feb 5, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild F27
Operator:
Registration:
HK-1139
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Bogotá - Valledupar
MSN:
75
YOM:
1960
Flight number:
VC772
Location:
Valledupar
Cesar
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
15
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
19
Circumstances:
The crew started the descent to Valledupar-Alfonso Lopez Airport in limited visibility when the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located few dozen km from Valledupar. The wreckage was found three days later and all 19 occupants have been killed.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the accident was the result of a controlled flight into terrain due to a premature descent.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 on Mt San Nicolas: 39 killed

Date & Time: Jan 21, 1972 at 1030 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
FAC-661
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Medellín – Quibdó – Bahía Solano – Buenaventura – Cali
Flight number:
FAC-661
Location:
Mt San Nicolás
Antioquia
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
35
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
39
Circumstances:
En route from Mdellín to Quibdó, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with limited visibility due to clouds. While cruising at an altitude of 12,500 feet, the airplane struck the slope of Mt San Nicolas (3,800 meters) located southwest of Betania. The wreckage was found four days later, on January 25. All 39 occupants were killed, among them civilians.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the crew lost his orientation while cruising in poor weather conditions and failed to realize he was not on properly track, thus at the right altitude.

Crash of a Vickers 837 Viscount in Bogotá: 20 killed

Date & Time: Jan 21, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Vickers Viscount
Operator:
Registration:
HK-1347
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Bogotá – Barranquilla – San Andrés
MSN:
442
YOM:
1960
Location:
Bogotá-El Dorado
Bogotá Capital District
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
15
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
20
Circumstances:
Four minutes after takeoff from Bogotá-El Dorado Airport, while climbing, the four engine airplane suffered an explosion and crashed in a field located 20 km from the airfield. The aircraft was destroyed and all 20 occupants were killed. It is reported that an unknown explosion occurred during climb.

Crash of a Beechcraft 65-B80 Queen Air in Armenia: 9 killed

Date & Time: Dec 16, 1971 at 1309 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft 80 Queen Air
Operator:
Registration:
HK-844
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Armenia - Bogotá
MSN:
LD-307
YOM:
1966
Location:
Armenia-El Edén
Quindío
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Armenia-El Edén Airport, while in initial climb, the pilot encountered engine problems and elected to return when control was lost. The airplane crashed on a hilly terrain located 5 km from the airfield and was totally destroyed. All nine occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure during initial climb.

Crash of a Cessna 402A in Bogotá

Date & Time: Nov 6, 1971
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 402
Operator:
Registration:
HK-1452
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Private
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Bogotá – Villavicencio
MSN:
402A-0124
YOM:
1969
Location:
Bogotá-El Dorado
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 while taking off from Bogotá-El Dorado Airport for unknown reason. Occupant's fate remains unknown. Conflict with Beaver FAC-117 on November 5, 1971 ?
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