Region
South America

Crash of a Vickers 785D Viscount near Shell: 57 killed

Date & Time: Apr 23, 1979 at 0745 LT
Type of aircraft:
Vickers Viscount
Operator:
Registration:
HC-AVP
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Quito - Cuenca
MSN:
329
YOM:
1957
Flight number:
EH011
Location:
Shell
Pastaza
Country:
Ecuador
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
52
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
57
Circumstances:
The four engine airplane departed Quito-Mariscal Sucre Airport at 0708LT on a schedule service (EH011) to Cuenca. While cruising at an altitude of 18,000 in clouds, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain and disappeared from radar screens. SAR operations were initiated but eventually abandoned few day slater as no trace of the aircraft nor the 57 occupants was found. The wreckage was located about 5 years later in a mountainous area located in the region of Shell-Mera, province of Pastaza.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain. At the time of the accident, the airplane was off course by 25 nm for undetermined reasons.

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A-27R Islander in Ecuador

Date & Time: Oct 17, 1978
Type of aircraft:
Britten-Norman Islander
Operator:
Registration:
HC-BFI
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
588
YOM:
1977
Location:
Ecuador
All Ecuador
Country:
Ecuador
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances somewhere in Ecuador. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain in Puerto Francisco de Orellana: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jul 14, 1978
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain
Operator:
Ecuavia
Registration:
HC-BEP
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Puerto Francisco de Orellana - Quito
Location:
Puerto Francisco de Orellana
Orellana
Country:
Ecuador
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances after takeoff from Puerto Francisco de Orellana Airport, killing all seven occupants.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130H Hercules near Pichincha: 11 killed

Date & Time: Jul 12, 1978
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed C-130 Hercules
Operator:
Registration:
FAE748
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
4748
YOM:
1977
Location:
Pichincha
Guayas
Country:
Ecuador
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
En route, the four engine airplane struck the slope of a mountain located in the region of Pichincha. All 11 occupants attached to the 11th Airborne squadron were killed.

Crash of a Vickers 764D Viscount in Cuenca: 24 killed

Date & Time: Dec 29, 1977
Type of aircraft:
Vickers Viscount
Operator:
Registration:
HC-BEM
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Guayaquil - Cuenca
MSN:
183
YOM:
1956
Location:
Cuenca-Mariscal La Mar
Azuay
Country:
Ecuador
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
20
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
24
Circumstances:
The crew filed an IFR flight plan from Guayaquil to Cuenca. After passing over the city of Puna, he decided to cancel the flight plan and continued under VFR mode. While descending to Cuenca, pilots encountered low clouds and failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the four engine airplane struck the slope of a mountain located few km from the airport. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and all 24 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Following several negligences, the crew started the descent prematurely under VFR mode in clouds, causing the aircraft to continue below the minimum prescribed altitude until it struck the mountain (controlled flight into terrain).

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver near Rio Aguarico

Date & Time: Nov 5, 1977 at 1535 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver
Operator:
Registration:
FAC-118
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Tres Esquinas - Puerto Leguizamo
Location:
Rio Aguarico
Sucumbíos
Country:
Ecuador
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The pilot was forced to attempt an emergency landing near the Rio Aguarico while completing a flight from Tres Esquinas to Puerto Leguizamo, apparently after being lost. The wreckage was spotted three days later about 20 km from the Colombia - Ecuador border and all four occupants were evacuated.

Crash of a Vickers 764D Viscount near Cuenca: 33 killed

Date & Time: Sep 4, 1977
Type of aircraft:
Vickers Viscount
Operator:
Registration:
HC-BCL
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Guayaquil - Cuenca
MSN:
185
YOM:
1956
Location:
Cuenca-Mariscal La Mar
Azuay
Country:
Ecuador
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
29
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
33
Circumstances:
While descending to Cuenca-Mariscal Lamar Airport in poor weather conditions, the four engine airplane struck the slope of a mountain located in the Cajas Mountain Range, about 40 km north of the intended destination. The wreckage was found few hours later and all 33 occupants were killed. The accident occurred in IMC conditions while the crew was approaching Cuenca Airport under VFR mode.
Probable cause:
The crew was flying VFR mode in adverse weather conditions, resulting in a controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Vickers 785D Viscount on Mt Chimborazo: 59 killed

Date & Time: Aug 15, 1976 at 0835 LT
Type of aircraft:
Vickers Viscount
Operator:
Registration:
HC-ARS
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Quito - Cuenca
MSN:
377
YOM:
1958
Flight number:
EH232
Location:
Mt Chimborazo
Chimborazo
Country:
Ecuador
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
55
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
59
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Quito-Mariscal Sucre Airport at 0806LT on a regular schedule flight EH232 to Cuenca, carrying four crew members and 55 passengers. At 0827LT, while cruising at 18,000 feet, the crew reported over Ambato. Eight minutes later, while cruising in limited visibility, the four engine airplane struck the slope of Mt Chimborazo (6,263 metres high). As the airplane failed to arrive at destination, SAR operations were initiated but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the 59 occupants was found. The wreckage was apparently localized on 17 October 2002 and a team of 20 alpinists was able to reach the crash site on 18 February 2003. Debris of the airplane were found, confirming this was flight EH232.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of an Avro 748-246-22A near Loja: 34 killed

Date & Time: Jan 20, 1976 at 0715 LT
Type of aircraft:
Avro 748
Operator:
Registration:
FAE683
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Loja - Guayaquil
MSN:
1683
YOM:
1970
Location:
Loja
Loja
Country:
Ecuador
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
36
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
34
Circumstances:
Ten minutes after takeoff from Loja Airport, while cruising over mountains terrain at an altitude of 10,000 feet in good weather conditions, the airplane lost height, struck trees and crashed on the mountain. Eight passengers were seriously injured while 34 other occupants were killed. The airplane had a dual registration FAE683 and HC-AUE.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the loss of altitude and the subsequent collision with ground was the consequence of orographic currents encountered over the mountainous area.

Crash of a Beechcraft AT-7 Navigator near Tena

Date & Time: Jun 25, 1975
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft AT-7 Navigator
Operator:
Registration:
505
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Illegal (smuggling)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Tres Esquinas – Puerto Leguízamo
MSN:
6706
YOM:
1944
Location:
Tena
Napo
Country:
Ecuador
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was supposed to fly from Tres Esquinas to Puerto Leguízamo but as the flight was illegal, they departed the Colombian Airspace for Ecuador. En route, an unexpected situation forced the crew to attempt an emergency landing by the Rio Pusuno, east of the city of Tena. All three occupants escaped and were arrested while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. A load of cocaine was found on board.
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