Colombia

Operator:

Registration:

HK-109

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Bogotá – Bucaramanga

MSN:

4753

YOM:

1942

Flight number:

AV676

Location:

San Vicente del Caguán

Caquetá

Country:

Colombia

Region:

South America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

6201

Captain / Total hours on type:

268.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

4941

Copilot / Total hours on type:

4941

Aircraft flight hours:

32455

Circumstances:

Flight 676 was a scheduled domestic flight from Eldorado Airport, Bogotá to Bucaramanga. It departed Bogotá at 1358 hours, local time. At 1450 hours it reported over Cimitarra at 9 000 ft in VMC, estimating Bucaramanga at 1510 hours. This was the last communication from the flight. When information of arrival was not received at the airport of destination, a state of alert was declared at 1522 hours and an emergency was subsequently declared at 1540 hours. The wreckage of the aircraft was located on 24 March at an altitude of approximately 7 200 ft on the peak known as Pan de Azucar, 35 NM from Bucaramanga on a magnetic bearing of 45'. The accident occurred at approximately 1455 hours. All 29 occupants have been killed.

Probable cause:

The pilot-in-command continued to fly VFR in unfavourable meteorological conditions which necessitated operation by instrument flight rules.

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Bucaramanga

Date & Time: Mar 11, 1965 at 0710 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

HK-153

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Bucaramanga – Bogotá

MSN:

4711

YOM:

1942

Flight number:

AV677

Location:

Bucaramanga-Gomez Niño

Santander

Country:

Colombia

Region:

South America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

During the takeoff roll at Bucaramanga-Gomez Niño Airport, the airplane became uncontrollable, veered off runway and struck a ditch before coming to rest in flames. All 34 occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft was partially destroyed by fire.

Crash of a Douglas B-18 Bolo in Tio Barbas: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 26, 1965

Type of aircraft:

Douglas B-18 Bolo

Operator:

Registration:

HK-367

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances into a dense jungle located in the region of Tio Barbas, Vaupés. It is believed that both pilots were killed while the third crew member and the passenger were injured and were able to walk away. Anaway, the wreckage was found on the 9 December 1967 and no trace of both survivors was found. The aircraft was involved in a cargo flight and was carrying a load of rubber.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-5-CU Commando in Barranquilla

Date & Time: Nov 9, 1964

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

HK-400

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Barranquilla-Ernesto Cortissoz (ex Soledad)

MSN:

30622

YOM:

1944

Location:

Atlántico

Country:

Colombia

Region:

South America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

During the takeoff roll at Barranquilla-Soledad Airport, the airplane went out of control and came to rest in flames. Both pilots escaped uninjured while the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-80-DL in Condoto: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 15, 1964 at 1751 LT

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

HK-319

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver

Schedule:

Condoto – Medellín

MSN:

19680

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The DC-3 landed at Condoto at 16:48 GMT after a flight from Medellin. The aircraft was unloaded and reloaded with 9 metal drums of graphite oil, totaling 2214 kg. The aircraft, with a 11045 kg takeoff weight (1157 kg below MTOW), took off from runway 27, heading back for Medellin. Five minutes after takeoff the pilot requested a return to Condoto because the aircraft was badly loaded. The flight was cleared for a runway 27 landing and the pilot reported on finals at 17:50. The plane touched down and bounced twice before climbing sharply. The DC-3 lost control and crashed left wing down, 480 m from the runway end.

Probable cause:

The prime cause of the accident was error of other personnel inasmuch as the sequence of events leading up to the accident was initiated by faulty distribution of the cargo on board the aircraft.

Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver in San Antonio de Prado: 7 killed

Date & Time: Aug 18, 1964 at 0820 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

HK-240

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Medellín – Urrao

MSN:

YOM:

1950

Flight number:

104

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The single engine aircraft left Medellín-Enrique Olaya Herrera Airport at 0810 on flight 104 to Urrao. Ten minutes after takeoff, while climbing, the airplane struck the slope of Mt Morro del Silencio located in San Antonio de Prado, about 7 km southwest of the airfield. Two passengers were injured while the pilot and six other passengers were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 in Larandia: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 20, 1964

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

FAC-685

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Larandia – Yari

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed shortly after takeoff from Larandia Airport while on a cargo flight to Yari, Nariño. All four occupants and 21 calves on board were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-5-DK in Facatativá: 28 killed

Date & Time: Mar 8, 1964 at 1845 LT

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

HK-862

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Pereira – Bogotá

MSN:

12374

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The DC-3 took off from Pereira at 17:24 for a flight to Bogotá, via reporting points El Paso, Girardot and La Esperanza. The aircraft arrived overhear La Esperanza at 18:18 and was instructed to hold there at FL130. The flight was cleared to leave the intersection at 18:33 to the Bogotá VOR. The crew estimated to arrive over the Bogotá VOR at 18:44 and were then instructed to descend to FL120 for an ADF approach to Bogotá Airport, reporting at the Bogotá VOR at FL120 and over the outer marker at 9800 feet. The plane arrived abeam the Bogotá VOR ahead of schedule, at 18:41, and was instructed to maintain FL120 until 18:44. At 18:42 the flight crew reported seeing another aircraft in their vicinity. They thought it to be a DC-4, but was actually a Curtiss C-46 which had been cleared for final approach. The DC-3 crew took evasive action, losing control of the aircraft. The DC-3 crashed near Facatativá.

Probable cause:

The pilot of the aircraft in observing the presence of another aircraft abruptly initiated a right turn which ended in an abnormal 'nose below the horizon' attitude, which he was unable to rectify in time. The following factors were considered as contributing:
- Error of other personnel: The pilot of the other aircraft initiated the instrument descent from 12,000 feet after 2 min 55 sec, when the normal time would have been 1 min 15 or 20 sec, in accordance with the procedures laid down in the Bogotá approach-to-land chart and the Manual of Colombian Air Routes approved by the Administrative Directorate of Civil Aeronautics, thereby creating a risk of collision in the air;
- The pilot of the subject aircraft had been flying on DC-4s and C-46s as well as DC-3s. The psychological reaction of the pilot at a critical moment was certainly affected by habits acquired on DC-4 and C-46 aircraft.
- Possible failure of equipment (faulty distribution of flight instruments in the cockpit): This is a design effect, since the artificial horizon in the subject type of aircraft was hidden behind the pilot's control column, which made it more difficult to control the flight posture of the machine.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver in Planadas: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 2, 1964

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

HK-948

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors: