Colombia | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The aircraft departed Santa Cecilia Airport, Bogotá at 0647LT bound for Medellín and Quibdó, carrying a crew of 5 and 11 passengers. Take-off was made at a time when the airport was closed due to poor visibility. While flying on instruments a few moments after take-off, the starboard engine failed. The aircraft continued its flight over the Sabana de Bogotá for approximately 23 minutes, following which, while flying on a magnetic heading of approximately 280 degrees, it crashed violently (at approximately 0705LT) against the Quetame Hill located near Cáqueza, about 30 km southeast of Bogotá, at an elevation of 9,170 feet. The flight engineer and one passenger were injured while 14 other occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

The probable cause of the accident was a complete failure of the starboard engine due to the breakdown of the lubricating system. The following factors were considered as contributing:
- Recklessness of the pilot in taking off from a closed airport while aware of the poor weather conditions prevailing throughout the Sabana, a circumstance which prevented returning to the airport of departure when complete breakdown of the starboard engine occurred,
- The 1,506 kg overload of the aircraft above the maximum gross operating weight for Bogotá according to the performance curves of the aircraft,
- The adverse weather conditions prevailing from the moment of take-off until the moment of the accident,
- An error of judgment on the part of the Operations and Maintenance Sections of the Company in failing to provide for a test flight of the aircraft after the turbine section had been changed and in finding aircraft HK-133 airworthy for the purpose of a scheduled flight with passengers under such conditions,
- The lack of competent air traffic and weather authorities at Santa Cecilia airport in a position to check civil aviation regulations and to prohibit take off from a closed airport,
- Faulty internal organization within AIDA which should have defined exactly the duties of the Maintenance Superintendent, of the Maintenance Chief and of the Dispatcher,
- The failure of the Company to have available a spare engine which would have avoided carrying out such delicate repair work in a hasty manner.

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-49G-DO on Mt El Rucio: 36 killed

Date & Time: Nov 17, 1956 at 1645 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-49 (DC-3)

Operator:

Aerolineas del Pacifico - ARPA

Registration:

HK-385

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Buenaventura – Cali

MSN:

1971

YOM:

1937

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft took off from Buenaventura at 1630LT on a return flight to el Guavito aerodrome, Cali. Expected time of arrival at Cali was 1700 hours. On board the aircraft were the pilot, a steward (who held no licence to act as such), a flight engineer (who on this occasion was acting as copilot), and 33 passengers. When 1700 hours passed with no sign of the aircraft's arriving at Cali, a search was initiated. The wreckage was located the same evening on the side of El Rucio mountain. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 36 occupants have been killed.

Probable cause:

The most probable cause of the accident was a flight on instruments at an excessively low altitude for the route. A lack of discipline on the part of the pilot was considered as a contributing factor.

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-80-DL in Colombia

Date & Time: Aug 9, 1956

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

HK-308

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

MSN:

19758

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver in Estación Popalito

Date & Time: Jan 20, 1956

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver

Operator:

Registration:

HK-190

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

MSN:

818

YOM:

1955

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver in Salto Del Tequendama: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jun 24, 1955

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver

Operator:

Registration:

FAC-113

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Bogotá – Melgar

MSN:

532

YOM:

1953

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Weather conditions deteriorated enroute and the single engine aircraft crashed near Salto Del Tequendama, killing all three occupants. The airplane left Bogotá-Techo Airport at 1030LT.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-90-DL nearTrujillo: 8 killed

Date & Time: Mar 9, 1955 at 1515 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

HK-328

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Condoto – Cali

MSN:

20224

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft departed Condoto at 1436LT with an ETA in Cali at 1535LT and was carrying five passengers, a crew of three and a load of gold and platinum. While cruising at an altitude of 12,500 feet north of Cali, the crew encountered poor weather conditions when the airplane crashed on a mountain side located near Trujillo. As the airplane failed to arrive in Cali, SAR operations were conducted and the wreckage was found four days later, on March 13. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and all eight occupants were killed.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina off La Pedrera: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jan 31, 1955

Type of aircraft:

Consolidated PBY Catalina

Operator:

Registration:

HK-1000E

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Bogotá – Villavicencio – Mitú – La Pedrera

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft was completing a cargo flight from Bogotá to La Pedrera with intermediate stop at Apiay AFB in Villavicencio and Mitú, carrying four passagers, four crew members, mail and various goods. While trying to land on the Río Caqueta near La Pedrera, the seaplane crashed into the river. All four passengers and a crew member were killed while three other occupants were killed.

Crash of a Grumman SA-16A Albatross in Jardín: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 18, 1955

Type of aircraft:

Grumman HU-16 (SA-16) Albatross

Operator:

Registration:

51-7197

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Yes

Schedule:

Albrook - Albrook

MSN:

G-262

YOM:

1953

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was engaged in a SAR mission following the disappearance of a Beechcraft Bonanza and was based at Albrook AFB, Panama. In unknown circumstances, the seaplane crashed in Jardín, Antioquia. Three crew members were killed while three others were injured.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46F Commando in Barranquilla

Date & Time: Dec 29, 1954

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Lineas Aéreas del Caribe - LIDCA

Registration:

HK-459

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Barranquilla – Bogotá

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the right engine caught fire. The airplane went out of control and crashed. All four crew members were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

Fire on right engine just after liftoff.