Colombia | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

While approaching Ocaña-Aguas Claras Airport, the single engine aircraft was too low, struck a hill and crashed. All three occupants were seriously injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 680 in Puerto Salgar: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 5, 1958

Type of aircraft:

Rockwell Aero Commander 680

Operator:

Registration:

FAC-552

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Palanquero – Puerto Salgar

MSN:

680-453-123

YOM:

1958

Location:

Puerto Salgar-Capitan Germán Olano Moreno

Cundinamarca

Country:

Colombia

Region:

South America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On final approach to Puerto Salgar-Capitan Germán Olano Moreno Airport, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed into the Río Magdalena. Both crew members were killed.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-45-CU Commando in Medellín

Date & Time: Sep 16, 1958 at 0800 LT

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

HK-514

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Medellín – Bogotá

MSN:

30363

YOM:

1944

Location:

Medellín-Enrique Olaya Herrera

Antioquia

Country:

Colombia

Region:

South America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Medellín-Enrique Olaya Herrera Airport runway 02, while in initial climb, the airplane suffered an engine failure. The crew attempted an emergency landing in a wasteland where the airplane crash landed. Both crew members were uninjured while the C-46 was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Engine failure.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-45-CU Commando in Puerto Colombia

Date & Time: Jun 26, 1958

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

HK-391

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Barranquilla – Miami

MSN:

30196

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route from Barranquilla to Miami, the crew encountered technical problems with the engine and elected to divert to the nearest airport. Eventually, the captain decided to attempt an emergency landing on a beach located near Puerto Colombia. The airplane belly landed on the shore and came to rest. All occupants escaped uninjured but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Engine trouble in flight.

Crash of a Douglas B-26C Invader near Madrid AFB: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 29, 1958 at 0830 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas A-26 Invader

Operator:

Registration:

FAC-2512

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Palanquero – Madrid – Apiay

MSN:

27437

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The twin engine aircraft departed Palanquero Airport at 0730LT. While approaching Madrid AFB near Bogotá, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances, killing all three crew members.

Crash of a Budd RB-1 Conestoga in Colombia

Date & Time: Dec 31, 1957

Type of aircraft:

Budd RB-1 Conestoga

Operator:

Aero Llanos

Registration:

HK-344X

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

MSN:

007

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed following an engine explosion in flight. Crew fate and exact date unknown.

Probable cause:

Engine explosion in flight.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-10-CU Commando in Guarne: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 25, 1957 at 1630 LT

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

HK-513

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Bogotá – Medellín

MSN:

33210

YOM:

1945

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was approaching Medellín-Enrique Olaya Herrera Airport when the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances in Guarne, about 17 km northeast of the airfield. Both crew members were killed.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver near Santo Domingo: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 4, 1957 at 0420 LT

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver

Operator:

Registration:

HK-181

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Puerto Berrío – Medellín

MSN:

744

YOM:

1954

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft landed at Puerto Berrío at 0346LT and took off again for Medellín at 0355LT. It carried a pilot and eight passengers. When it had covered half of the route and while at the highest point along the route, about 8 km from Santo Domingo, the aircraft crashed, at approximately 0420LT, into one of the hills. One passenger was killed instantly, another died later at Medellín, and the others suffered minor injuries.

Probable cause:

After careful study of the present investigation referring to the accident involving aircraft HK-181 owned by Aerotaxi Servicios Aéreos on the territory of the municipality of Santo Domingo ( Antioquia) which occurred on 4 June 1957, it is found that the cause of the accident was pilot error. This error consisted in the pilot's having flown too low under poor weather conditions and in his having engaged his aircraft in a canyon with no outlet. He was thus forced to make an emergency landing on unsuitable terrain. Unfavourable weather conditions being an extenuating circumstance, Civil Aeronautics rules that the pilot is to pay a penalty fine of five hundred pesos ($500.00) into the National Treasury in view of his responsibility for this accident which resulted in two deaths, and in the destruction of the aircraft. Aerotaxi Servicios Aéreos shall submit the pilot to severe checking before allowing him to fly again as a taxi pilot.

Final Report:

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina near Natagaima: 12 killed

Date & Time: Mar 13, 1957

Type of aircraft:

Consolidated PBY Catalina

Operator:

Registration:

FAC-620

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Bogotá – Tres Esquinas

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Struck a mountain near Natagaima, Tolima, while on a flight from Bogotá to Tres Esquinas. As the airplane failed to arrive at destination, SAR operations were conducted. The wreckage was found eleven days later, on March 24. All 12 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL near Tuluá: 15 killed

Date & Time: Mar 9, 1957 at 1000 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

HK-155

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Condoto – Buenaventura – Cali

MSN:

4338

YOM:

1942

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

HK-155 departed Cali for Condoto at 0827LT. It reported taking-off from Condoto on the return flight at 0950LT and advised that it would fly via Buenaventura. Shortly after take-off, HK-155 changed from Condoto Tower frequency to the Cali aeronautical telecommunications frequency and reported at 0958 that it had departed Condoto at 0950 with a load of 975 kg including 12 passengers and that it was proceeding to Cali via Buenaventura. No record could be found of a later call from the aircraft on any of the frequencies available. The flight from Condoto to Cali would normally take about 50 to 55 minutes. At 1037, Cali called HK-155 but received no reply. The Cali route frequencies log indicates at 1107 that Bogota: ATC had declared an alert with regard to HK-155. The wreckage was found on the slope of a wooded mountain located 32 km west of Tuluá. All 15 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the probable cause of the accident was an instrument flight at inadequate altitude. The following factors were considered as contributing:
- The Buenaventura route was not followed,
- Instrument flight which precluded visual means of checking the aircraft's position,
- The pilot did not consider it necessary to check his position by means of El Paso radio beacon,
- Over-confidence on the part of the pilot regarding his knowledge of the route,
- Flight outside the established route or airway
- Unfavorable weather conditions.
As the aircraft crashed on the direct route Condoto - Cali and the said route had not been authorized by the Civil Aeronautics Department, it can be logically assumed that the pilot is solely responsible for this accident since he flew, on instruments, a route which had not been authorized, even for visual flights.

Final Report:

Subscribe to Colombia