Region
South America

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver in Medellín: 8 killed

Date & Time: Jul 30, 1966 at 1531 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver
Operator:
Registration:
HK-1009
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Medellín –Puerto Berrío
MSN:
1197
YOM:
1958
Location:
Medellín
Antioquia
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Medellín Airport, while climbing, the engine failed. The pilot elected to make an emergency landing when control was lost. The airplane crashed in flames an industrial area located near the airport, killing all eight occupants.
Probable cause:
Engine failure during initial climb.

Crash of a Douglas C-54B-1-DO Skymaster in Cartagena: 56 killed

Date & Time: Jan 15, 1966 at 2055 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
HK-730
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Cartagena – Bogotá
MSN:
18325
YOM:
1944
Flight number:
AV004
Location:
Cartagena
Bolívar
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
60
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
56
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from runway 36 at Cartagena-Crespo Airport, while climbing to a height of 70 feet, the airplane descended and eventually crashed into the sea some 1,310 meters past the runway end. All four crew members and 52 passengers were killed while eight others were rescued. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
The accident was attributed to a maintenance error resulting from inadequate inspection periodic, daily, nightly and transit servicing and consisting in failure to notice the absence of a pin looseness and/or absence of a nut which joins the torsion links of the left landing gear. A possible contributing factor in the accident was pilot error, consisting in involuntary negligence in observing or wrongly interpreting the aircraft instruments during takeoff, at the time of changing over from VFR to IFR flight and/or loss of control of the aircraft by the pilot-in-command when checking the cause of a failure in the landing gear well and no.2 engine.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 near Chipaque: 11 killed

Date & Time: Jan 6, 1966 at 1822 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
FAC-675
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Bogotá – Barranca de Upía – San Pedro de Arimena – Orocué – San Luis de Palenque – Aguazul – Monterrey – Paz de Ariporo – Cravo Norte – Coroza – Tame – Bogotá
Location:
Chipaque
Cundinamarca
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
The aircraft was completing a special flight out from Bogotá and return on behalf of the Bank of Bogotá, carrying people from isolated area. Following stopover in Barranca de Upía, San Pedro de Arimena, Orocué, San Luis de Palenque, Aguazul, Monterrey, Paz de Ariporo, Cravo Norte, Coroza and Tame, the aircraft was returning to the capital city with nine passengers and two pilots on board. About eight minutes before the ETA at El Dorado Airport, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located near Chipaque. The aircraft was destroyed and all 11 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-15-CU Commando near Urrao: 4 killed

Date & Time: Nov 23, 1965 at 0515 LT
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Vicair
Registration:
N1210W
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
33595
YOM:
1945
Location:
Urrao
Antioquia
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a cargo flight to Ecuador, carrying a load of cigarettes. While flying by night in heavy rain falls, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain in the region of Urrao. As the airplane failed to arrive at destination, SAR operations were conducted and the wreckage was found on the slope of Mt Cerro Pelado, between the cities of Urrao and Frontino, on January 10, 1966. The aircraft was destroyed and all four occupants were killed. Operated by Vicair, the aircraft was leased from Atlantic Aircraft Corporation who subleased from Associated Aviation Industries.
Probable cause:
The accident was the consequence of a control flight into terrain.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Canón del Paraiso: 26 killed

Date & Time: Nov 8, 1965 at 1225 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
HK-1202
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Neiva – San Vicente del Caguán
MSN:
4402
YOM:
1942
Location:
Cañón del Paraiso
Caquetá
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
31
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
26
Circumstances:
The flight was a scheduled domestic flight from La Manguita Airport, City of Neiva to San Vicente del Cagúan. It took off from Neiva at 1207 hours and its estimated time of arrival at its destination was 1245 hours local time. At 1500 hours, when there was no report from the aircraft, the Bogotá Control Centre declared a state of alert and at 1540 hours a state of emergency. On 11 November at approximately 1207 hours, the pilot-in-command of another aircraft informed Neiva through Airway Control that he had spotted the remains of the aircraft at a place named Canón del Paraiso close to the Cerro del Diablo. Three crew members and 23 passengers were killed while 10 other occupants were rescued.
Probable cause:
The primary cause of the accident was a pilot error in that the pilot-in-command of the aircraft continued to fly VFR in adverse weather conditions on a route which was not authorized for an IFR flight by the Colombian Airways Manual.
A contributing cause was an error by other personnel in that the dispatcher improperly prepared the passenger and cargo manifests and the load and trim sheet and overloaded the aircraft by approximately 1,456 kg.
Final Report:

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina near Puerto Arturo: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 4, 1965
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
HK-811
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Villavicencio – Mitú
Location:
Puerto Arturo
Vaupés
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
En route, weather conditions deteriorated and the seaplane crashed in unknown circumstances in an uninhabited area located in the region of Puerto Arturo. As the airplane failed to arrive at Mitú Airport, SAR operations were conducted and the wreckage was found on November 13. Four wounded people were evacuated while both pilots were killed.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3 in Bucaramanga: 15 killed

Date & Time: Oct 17, 1965
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
HK-118
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Bogotá – Bucaramanga
MSN:
6182
YOM:
1942
Flight number:
AV508
Location:
Bucaramanga
Santander
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While approaching Bucaramanga-Gomez Niño Airport from the north, the Dakota collided with a private Piper PA-18A Super Cub registered HK-922P. Following the collision, both aircraft dove into the ground and crashed near the Las Terrazas residential area. All 15 occupants on board the DC-3 and the pilot of the PA-18 were killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the collision remains unclear.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-50-CU Commando in Cúcuta: 4 killed

Date & Time: Oct 4, 1965 at 1105 LT
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
SEA Colombia - Servicios Especiales Aéreos Colombia
Registration:
HK-613
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Cúcuta – Arauca
MSN:
30465
YOM:
1944
Location:
Cúcuta
Norte de Santander
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The flight was a non-scheduled domestic cargo flight. After boarding 162 crates of beer and one passenger at Cúcuta the crew requested clearance to takeoff for Arauca at 10:42. Clearance was given by the control tower for runway 20 with a south-southeast wind at 18 kt. The aircraft used more than 3/4 of the runway for takeoff and initiated a turn over the city, returning over the aerodrome to gain height. At 10:58 hours it reported departure to the southeast, climbing in visual meteorological conditions to 7500 ft and estimating Santo Domingo at 11:13. When the aircraft was at approximately 4500 to 5000 ft, flames were seen coming from the no. 2 engine. The aircraft attempted to return to Cúcuta. On its way back the starboard wing and engine were seen tearing off from the aircraft. The rest of the aircraft immediately started to roll slowly to the left and moments later struck the ground on Cerro del Espinazo. All four occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was attributed to a maintenance error consisting of inadequate service and inspection of part of, or systems of the starboard engine, giving rise to a fire in an undetermined part of the accessories section of that engine. A contributing factor was a maintenance error consisting of failure to comply with Technical Directive No. 62-10-2 (Aerocivil C-46-39).
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47 in Cali: 14 killed

Date & Time: Aug 28, 1965
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Howard - Cali
Location:
Cali
Valle del Cauca
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
14
Circumstances:
While descending to Cali Airport, the airplane struck the slope of Mt Calima and was destroyed. All 14 occupants were killed. The flight was inbound from Howard AFB in Panama City.

Crash of a Douglas B-18A Bolo in San Pedro de Jagua: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jun 29, 1965
Type of aircraft:
Douglas B-18 Bolo
Operator:
Registration:
HK-537
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
2534
YOM:
1937
Location:
San Pedro de Jagua
Cundinamarca
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances while completing a cargo flight, carrying a load of food. All three crew members were killed.
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