Region
South America

Crash of a Douglas C-47 near Baños de Agua Santa: 20 killed

Date & Time: May 2, 1974 at 1930 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
HC-AUC
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Shell Mera – Ambato
Location:
Baños de Agua Santa
Tungurahua
Country:
Ecuador
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
22
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
20
Circumstances:
17 minutes after its takeoff from Shell Mera-Río Amazonas Airport, while flying by night at an altitude of 11,500 feet, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain with its left wing that was partially torn off. Out of control, the airplane crashed near Baños de Agua Santa. The wreckage was found the following morning and five injured people were evacuated while 20 other occupants were killed, among them two crew members.
Probable cause:
Investigations were able to determine that the following factors contributed to the accident:
- Failure of the crew to adhere to the minima safe altitude fixed at 12,500 feet,
- Failure of the crew to follow the 275° heading from Rio Negro to Baños de Agua Santa,
- Overconfidence on part of the pilot-in-command,
- Possible distraction of the flight crew due to the presence of a tourist guide in the cockpit.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-Dl on Mt Sangay: 6 killed

Date & Time: Mar 14, 1972 at 1630 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
HC-SJE
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Quito - Macas
MSN:
4425
YOM:
1942
Location:
Mt Sangay
Morona Santiago
Country:
Ecuador
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
En route from Quito to Macas on a cargo flight, the airplane struck the slope of the Sangay volcano (5,230 meters high) located 40 km northwest of Macas. A crew member survived while six others were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-90-DL on Mt de Hojas

Date & Time: Sep 12, 1971
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
HC-AUX
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
20179
YOM:
1944
Location:
Mt de Hojas
Manabí
Country:
Ecuador
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on Mt de Hojas located southeast of Manta. Occupant's fate remains unknown.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 on Mt Guachanama: 8 killed

Date & Time: Dec 13, 1970
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Humanitarian
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Loja - Guayaquil
Location:
Mt Guachanama
Loja
Country:
Ecuador
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Loja on an airlift to Guayaquil, carrying civilians (doctors) and various equipments following the recent earthquake. While cruising at an altitude of 3,000 meters et marginal weather conditions, the aircraft struck the slope of Mt Guachanama located in the region of Celica. All eight occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Vickers 798D Viscount in Cuenca

Date & Time: Jun 3, 1970
Type of aircraft:
Vickers Viscount
Operator:
Registration:
HC-ART
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Quito – Cuenca
MSN:
288
YOM:
1958
Location:
Cuenca-Mariscal La Mar
Azuay
Country:
Ecuador
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After touchdown at Cuenca Airport, the airplane was unable to stop within the remaining distance and overran. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Ground fire of a Douglas DC-4 in Lago Agrio

Date & Time: Dec 31, 1969
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-4
Operator:
Registration:
HC-ANP
Flight Phase:
Parking
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
22149
YOM:
1945
Location:
Nueva Loja-Lago Agrio
Sucumbíos
Country:
Ecuador
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
20413
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft was destroyed by fire at Lago Agrio Airport. The mishap occurred in unknown circumstances at an unknown date during 1969. Some unofficial reports says the fire was intentionally set.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-23-DK in Sucre: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 25, 1969
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
HC-ALK
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
15777/27222
YOM:
1945
Location:
Sucre
Santa Elena
Country:
Ecuador
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Crashed on takeoff under unknown circumstances. A crew member was killed while three other occupants were injured.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 in Lloa: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 29, 1968
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Quito – Salinas
Location:
Lloa
Pichincha
Country:
Ecuador
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from Quito-Mariscal Sucre Airport, both engines failed. The crew reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft crashed in an open field and came to rest, broken in two. The wreckage was found near Lloa, some 28 km southwest of Quito Airport. While all 10 passengers were injured, both pilots were killed.
Crew:
Cpt César Egas, pilot,
Lt Galo Molina Hidalgo, pilot.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure for unknown reason.

Crash of a Lockheed L-382B-5C Hercules in Macuma

Date & Time: May 16, 1968
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed C-130 Hercules
Operator:
Registration:
N9267R
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
4146
YOM:
1966
Location:
Macuma
Morona Santiago
Country:
Ecuador
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew landed on a muddy airfield and the undercarriage sank in about 50 cm into soft ground before the aircraft came to rest. Timbers were placed under the wheels as a ramp. Engine power was used to move the aircraft when the engine n°1 prop struck the ground and disintegrated. Debris struck the engine n°2 and a fire erupted. The aircraft caught fire and was quickly destroyed while all six crew members were uninjured.
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