Region
South America

Crash of a Beechcraft 200 Super King on Mt Huayra Pungo: 9 killed

Date & Time: May 24, 1981 at 1400 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft 200 Super King Air
Operator:
Registration:
FAE001A
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Government
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Quito - Macará
MSN:
BB-723
YOM:
1980
Location:
Mt Huayra Pungo
Loja
Country:
Ecuador
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed Quito-Mariscal Sucre Airport around noon on a flight to Macará, carrying six passengers and three crew members, among them Jaime Roldós Aguilera, President of the Republic of Ecuador who was making an official visit of the south region of Ecuador. While cruising at an altitude of 7,700 feet in marginal weather conditions, the airplane struck the slope of Mt Huayra Pungo located 40 km north of Macará. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all nine occupants were killed. The airplane had dual registration HC-BHG and FAE001A.
Crew:
Col Marco Andrade Buitrón, pilot,
Lt Galo Romo Altamirano, copilot,
María Soledad Zapata, stewardess.
Passengers:
Mr. Jaime Roldós Aguilera, President of the Republic of Ecuador,
Mrs. Martha Bucaram, President's spouse,
Mr. Marco Aurelio Subía Martinez, Minister of Defense,
Mrs. Gladys Irlanda Sarango; Mr. Martinez's spouse,
Mr. Armando Arsenio Navarrete,
Col Héctor Alfredo Torres Velázques.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty as the airplane was not equipped with any recording equipment. Nevertheless, Ecuadorian Air Force attributed the accident to a controlled flight into terrain caused by a navigational error on part of the flying crew while flying in limited visibility due to marginal weather conditions.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 in Macara: 18 killed

Date & Time: May 22, 1981 at 1500 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter
Operator:
Registration:
FAE457
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Quito - Macará
MSN:
457
YOM:
1975
Location:
Macará
Loja
Country:
Ecuador
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
18
Circumstances:
The airplane was completing a flight from Quito to Macará, carrying members of the Ecuadorian government, Army Officers and journalists who were flying to the south of the country, taking part to the next official visit of the President of the Republic of Ecuador Jaime Roldós Aguilera. While descending to Macará, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with low clouds and rain showers. Too low, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain and crashed few km from Macará. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and all 18 occupants were killed. The airplane had a dual registration FAE457 and HC-BAX.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter in Iliniza

Date & Time: Sep 2, 1980
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter
Operator:
Registration:
FAE453
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
453
YOM:
1975
Location:
Mt Illiniza (24 Mayo)
Cotopaxi
Country:
Ecuador
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane crashed in unknown circumstances on Mt Illiniza near the 24 Mayo Airstrip. All seven occupants were rescued while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. The airplane had a dual registration FAE453 and HC-BAV.

Crash of a Nord 2501D Noratlas near Shell Mera: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 24, 1980
Type of aircraft:
Nord 2501 Noratlas
Operator:
Registration:
HC-AXK
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
137
YOM:
1957
Location:
Shell Mera-Río Amazonas
Pastaza
Country:
Ecuador
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances while approaching Shell Mera-Río Amazonas Airport. Both pilots were killed.

Crash of a Vickers 745D Viscount in Catamayo

Date & Time: Jul 14, 1980 at 0755 LT
Type of aircraft:
Vickers Viscount
Operator:
Aerolineas Condor
Registration:
HC-BHB
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
205
YOM:
1956
Location:
Catamayo (ex Camilo Ponce Enríquez)
Loja
Country:
Ecuador
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While on final approach to Catamayo-Camilo Ponce Enríquez Airport following an uneventful cargo flight, the crew encountered a limited visibility due to smoke coming from local sugar cane field burns. Facing the sun (sunrise), the crew failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the airplane struck the ground three meters short of runway threshold. On impact, the right main gear was torn off and the airplane slid on its right wing for 200 meters before coming to rest onto the runway with both right engines n°3 and 4 partially torn off. Both pilots escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Too low approach in limited visibility caused by local fumed and sunrise.

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo in Ecuador: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 7, 1980
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-310 Navajo
Operator:
Ecuavia
Registration:
HC-AQC
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Ferry
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
31-397
YOM:
1968
Location:
Ecuador
All Ecuador
Country:
Ecuador
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane crashed in a mountainous area located in Ecuador. Both pilots were killed.

Crash of a Boeing 720-059B in Quito

Date & Time: Jan 27, 1980
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 720
Operator:
Registration:
HK-725
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
18087/249
YOM:
1961
Location:
Quito-Mariscal Sucre (City)
Pichincha
Country:
Ecuador
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After landing at Quito-Mariscal Sucre Airport, the airplane was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran, lost its nose gear and came to a halt about 70 meters past the runway end. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Wrong approach configuration on part of the crew who landed at an excessive speed of 143 knots instead of the requested 123 knots according to actual flight conditions. The touchdown point was 300 meters past the runway threshold and the crew failed to activate the emergency brakes.

Crash of an IAI Arava 201 in Loja: 16 killed

Date & Time: Nov 19, 1979
Type of aircraft:
IAI Arava 201
Operator:
Registration:
T-201
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
11
YOM:
1974
Location:
Loja
Loja
Country:
Ecuador
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
16
Circumstances:
Crashed shortly after takeoff from Loja Airport for unknown reasons. All 16 occupants were killed, among them General Rafael Rodrígues Palacios aged 53, Minister of Defense, who was accompanied by his wife and daughter.

Crash of an IAI Arava 201 near Yaupi: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 29, 1979
Type of aircraft:
IAI Arava 201
Operator:
Registration:
ANE-234
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
44
YOM:
1977
Location:
Yaupi
Morona Santiago
Country:
Ecuador
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The aircraft was dispatched on a SAR mission following the recent disappearance of a SAETA Vickers Viscount. In unknown circumstances, the airplane crashed in a wooded and mountainous area located near Yaupi, about 128 km east of Cuenca. Two civilian passengers were killed while five other occupants, members of the Ecuadorian Navy, were injured.
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