Region
South America

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

Date & Time: Feb 25, 1962 at 1435 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
HK-502
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Manizales – Bogotá
MSN:
19653
YOM:
1944
Location:
Marulanda
Caldas
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
7579
Captain / Total hours on type:
3815.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1435
Copilot / Total hours on type:
240
Circumstances:
Douglas C-47A, HK-502 was on a non-scheduled domestic flight from Manizales Airport (elevation 3,380 feet) to Bogotá (elevation 8,355 feet). The aircraft took off from Manizales Airport at 1404LT with 2 crew and a load of cargo aboard. At 1420LT HK-502 reported its position over San Felix at an altitude of 12,500 feet and that it estimated Cambao at 1433LT. At 1435LT HK-502 declared an emergency. The aircraft crashed into the mountain immediately after this radio transmission. The accident site was approximately 32 miles from Manizales on a bearing of 300°. The accident was reported by the Salamina authorities at 1440LT. Both occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was due to the faulty procedure on the part of the pilot who made the en route climb from Manizales to San Felix at a low altitude, so that the aircraft became trapped in a canyon and crashed in the San Felix pass at La Aguadita after stalling during a turn at 9,000 feet.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 680 near Cali: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 17, 1962 at 1007 LT
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Aero Commander 680
Operator:
Registration:
FAC-553
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Buenaventura – Cali
MSN:
680-454-124
YOM:
1958
Location:
Cali
Valle del Cauca
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft left Buenaventura Airport at 0940LT for 45 minutes flight to Cali, ETA 1025LT. En route, the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances, killing all four occupants.

Crash of a Douglas C-54B-1-DC Skymaster in Cúcuta

Date & Time: Jan 28, 1962
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
HK-130
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Bogotá – Cúcuta
MSN:
10469
YOM:
1944
Location:
Cúcuta-Camilo Daza
Norte de Santander
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
50
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
For unknown reason, the four engine aircraft landed hard at Cúcuta-Camilo Daza Airport. On touchdown on runway 33, the main landing gear punctured the fuel tanks. The airplane rolled for dozen yards before coming to rest in flames as the fuel leaked and ignited. All 54 occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft was written off.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-35-CU Commando in Calderon

Date & Time: Apr 8, 1961
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
HK-489E
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
26778
YOM:
1944
Location:
Calderon
Amazonas
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
27
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on landing at Calderon. All 29 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was written off.

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

Date & Time: Mar 29, 1961 at 1700 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver
Operator:
Registration:
HK-210
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Medellín – San Marcos
MSN:
896
YOM:
1956
Location:
Yarumal
Antioquia
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
While completing a positioning flight from Medellín to San Marcos, the pilot lost control of the airplane that crashed and burned near Yarumal. The pilot Alfonso Nieto was killed.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver in San Juan de Arama: 5 killed

Date & Time: Sep 20, 1960
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver
Operator:
Registration:
FAC-109
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Apiay - San Juan de Arama
MSN:
429
YOM:
1953
Location:
San Juan de Arama
Meta
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Crashed while approaching San Juan de Arama while on a flight from Apiay Airbase. All five occupants were killed.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-10-CU Commando in Bogotá: 37 killed

Date & Time: Apr 19, 1960 at 1908 LT
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
HK-390
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Miami – Barranquilla – Medellín – Bogotá
MSN:
32954
YOM:
1944
Flight number:
LL503
Location:
Bogotá-El Dorado
Bogotá Capital District
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
44
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
37
Aircraft flight hours:
8289
Circumstances:
While on final approach to El Dorado Airport in Bogotá, the airplane stalled and crashed few km short of runway 12. Fourteen people were evacuated while 37 others, among them six crew members, were killed.
Probable cause:
The pilot failed to take proper action to counteract the loss of speed and height in the final approach turn. The following factors contributed to the accident:
- Lack of operational control by the airlines concerned,
- The pilot in command lacked experience as a transport pilot,
- It is probable that the report from the control tower at Eldorado that the runway was restricted because another aircraft had crashed in the safety zone had a psychological effect on the pilot.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-60-CS Commando near Planeta Rica: 25 killed

Date & Time: Mar 19, 1960 at 1610 LT
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
HK-516
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
San Andrés – Medellín
MSN:
00384
YOM:
1945
Flight number:
MM901
Location:
Planeta Rica
Córdoba
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
42
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
25
Aircraft flight hours:
15876
Circumstances:
En route from San Andrés Island to Medellín, while cruising in bad weather conditions, the pilot informed ATC about technical problems on the left engine and elected to divert to Planeta Rica. On approach, the aircraft struck the slope of Mt Los Mellos located about 11 km from the airfield. Three crew members and 22 passengers were killed while 21 other occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
The accident was attributed to an error of judgement in that the pilot decided to land at an airport which was closed and where no radio aid was available at the time when he was in visual flight at an adequate altitude and close to several airports offering good characteristics and suitable weather conditions. In addition, the pilot underestimated the malfunction that at the time had developed in the left engine. The following contributing factors intervened:
- Malfunction in the carburetor of the left engine resulting in intermittent overspeeding and slight coughing,
- Adverse weather conditions (namely thick mist, rain, hail and electric storm) which prevailed in the area and in the vicinity of Planeta Rica Airport at the time of the accident,
- The lack of communications which prevented the pilot from being briefed on the weather conditions at Planeta Rica Airport and from being informed of the absence of tower or radio facility services owing to the time-table in force at the airport.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina in El Refugio: 6 killed

Date & Time: Mar 15, 1960
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
HK-1001E
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Araracuara – Villavicencio
Location:
El Refugio
Meta
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
Crashed in the jungle while en route from Araracuara to Villavicencio. Two crew members and four passengers were killed and seven other occupants were rescued.

Crash of a Noorduyn Norseman near Barrancabermeja: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 19, 1959 at 1230 LT
Type of aircraft:
Noorduyn Norseman
Operator:
ASPA - Aspersiones Antes
Registration:
HK-454
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Aguas Claras – Barrancabermeja
MSN:
323
YOM:
1944
Location:
Barrancabermeja
Santander
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
While approaching Barrancabermeja on a flight from Aguas Claras, the engine caught fire. The pilot attempted to make an emergency landing when the airplane hit a tree and crashed in flames. All seven passengers were injured while the pilot and owner of the company, Walter Trujillo Villegas , was killed.
Probable cause:
Engine fire in flight.
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