Crash of a Douglas C-47 in Tauramena: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jul 2, 1963
Operator:
Registration:
FAC-678
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Apiay - Tauramena
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
On approach to Tauramena, the crew encountered poor weather conditions when the airplane struck the ground and crashed few km from the destination. Three occupants were injured while six others were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 in the Cordillera de Los Picachos National Park: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jun 4, 1963
Operator:
Registration:
HK-1082
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
San Vicente del Caguán – Bogotá
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed San Vicente del Caguán on a cargo flight to Bogotá-El Dorado Airport, carrying two passengers, three crew and a load consisting of 12 calves. As the airplane failed to arrive in Bogotá, SAR operations were conducted. A week later, the wreckage was found on the slope of Mt Mirador located in the Cordillera de Los Picachos National Park, State of Meta. All five occupants and all 12 animals were killed.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver in Tunja: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 16, 1963 at 1555 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
FAC-110
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
443
YOM:
1953
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Crashed on takeoff from Tunka Airport for unknown reason. Three occupants were killed and one survived.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver in Montegrande: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 1, 1963
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HK-195
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Medellín – Turbo
MSN:
867
YOM:
1956
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Six minutes after takeoff from Medellín-Enrique Olaya Herrera Airport, the pilot encountered technical problems with the engine. He lost control of the aircraft that crashed in Montegrande, some 30 km north of Medellín. Three passengers were killed while six other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Douglas B-26C Invader in Cartagena: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 20, 1963
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
FAC-2508
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
29055
YOM:
1944
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Crashed shortly after takeoff from Cartagena Airport, killing all three crew members.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL near Barrancabermeja: 24 killed

Date & Time: Dec 6, 1962 at 1640 LT
Operator:
Registration:
HK-437
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bucaramanga – Barrancabermeja
MSN:
4697
YOM:
1942
Flight number:
TX209
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
23
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
24
Captain / Total flying hours:
7000
Captain / Total hours on type:
2566.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1064
Copilot / Total hours on type:
331
Circumstances:
Flight 209 was a scheduled public transport flight from Bucaramanga to Barrancabermeja and was to return the same evening. The aircraft departed Bucaramanga at 1628 hoiurs and six minutes later the pilot reported crossing the Palonegro beacon and that the flight was proceeding normally. It was heading west at 4,500 feet and estimated its time of arrival at Barrancabermeja as 1650 hours. This was the last and only report received from the aircraft. The aircraft crashed sometime between 1640 and 1730 hours local time, in daylight. The aircraft crashed in a wooded area located 48 km east of Barrancabermeja and was destroyed. Both pilots, a stewardess and 21 passengers were killed, two others were injured.
Probable cause:
The accident was attributed to an error of judgement on the part of the pilot in trying to fly VFR in IFR conditions. The heavy rain prevented him from seeing trees with which he collided, and loss of control of the aircraft resulted.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-54D-10-DC Skymaster near Suárez: 5 killed

Date & Time: Nov 16, 1962 at 2212 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
FAC-693
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Bogotá - Bogotá
MSN:
10183
YOM:
1944
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew departed Bogotá-El Dorado Airport in the evening for a night training mission. En route, the four engine aircraft struck the slope of Mt Guayatama located near Suárez, about 100 km southwest of its departure point. The aircraft was destroyed and all five crew members were killed.

Crash of a Douglas R4D-1 in Barrancabermeja: 19 killed

Date & Time: Aug 23, 1962 at 1557 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HK-794
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Barrancabermeja – Bucaramanga
MSN:
4551
YOM:
1942
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
29
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
19
Captain / Total flying hours:
9532
Captain / Total hours on type:
2007.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
6295
Copilot / Total hours on type:
1500
Circumstances:
The DC-3 took off from Barrancabermeja runway 03 at 15:57. After 250 m the aircraft began veering to the left of the centreline and then swerved to the right. At 490 m into the takeoff, the DC-3 left the runway, corrected direction, crossed the centreline again and traversed the left-hand safety strip. The pilot corrected to avoid a collision with the T wind indicator and the aircraft entered the parking apron. The pilot applied full power as he altered direction to align with the aircraft parallel with the main runway. The starboard wing grazed the apron surface, and the aircraft bounced several times. The pilot decided to takeoff from the apron and attempted after a run of another 258 m to lift the aircraft without the necessary speed. The wingtip struck two helicopters (one of the two being a Hiller UH-12, HK-781E) on the ground, and the tail skid and cone struck a fuel tank at the edge of the apron. The aircraft cartwheeled 180° to port and fell into a depression 30 m deep and 120 m from the northern edge of the apron.
Probable cause:
The main cause of the accident was faulty piloting in the form of poor flight technique during take-off, with overcontrol of the aircraft throughout the 1169.70 m covered. The pilot used faulty judgement in trying to take-off outside the main runway 03 in use at the time. A contributing factor was faulty dispatching of the aircraft whose centre of gravity was outside the aft limit for take-off with maximum load at Barrancabermeja Airport.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-1-DK in Serranía del Baudó: 40 killed

Date & Time: Apr 22, 1962 at 1045 LT
Registration:
HK-524
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Bahía Solano – Quibdó
MSN:
12075
YOM:
1943
Country:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
36
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
40
Captain / Total flying hours:
7645
Captain / Total hours on type:
6606.00
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Bahía Solano at 1020LT on a non-scheduled domestic flight to Quibdó carrying a crew of 4 and probably 36 passengers. Following departure the aircraft was not hear by any radio station, and there is no knowledge of any departure information or position report having been received from it. The accident occurred at 1045LT. The wreckage of the aircraft was located four days later about 31 miles from the airport on Bonito Peak, at an elevation of 2,400 feet. The aircraft was destroyed and all 40 occupants were killed. The aircraft's certificate permitted it to carry 31 persons, including crew members. However, at the time of the accident the following were believed to be aboard: 4 crew, 29 passengers, 5 infants in arms and 2 children. The Colombian Civil Aeronautics Department had introduced a weight limit of 11,431 kg for all aircraft of this type engaged in passenger transport in Colombia. At the time of the accident the aircraft's weight was about 12,002 kg, i.e. 571 kg in excess of the figure allowed for aircraft engaged in passenger transport. As Bahía Solano is a fourth category airport the pilot-in-command should have completed a weight and balance manifest. He failed to do so.
Probable cause:
The cause of the accident was not determined. Possible contributing factors were:
- Weather conditions at the time,
- An error of the pilot in flying at an altitude unsuited to the route.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47 near Apiay AFB: 31 killed

Date & Time: Apr 6, 1962 at 1500 LT
Operator:
Registration:
FAC-563
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Araracuara - Apiay
Country:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
26
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
31
Circumstances:
The aircraft was completing a special flight from Araracuara to Apiay AFB, carrying convicts released on parole accompanied by prison guards. While approaching Apiay in marginal weather conditions at an altitude of 11,500 feet, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain and disintegrated on impact, killing all 31 occupants.
Probable cause:
It was determined the aircraft was off track by 10° at the time of the accident, probably due to strong winds. The lack of efficient navigation systems along the route was considered as a contributing factor, as well as the poor weather conditions.