Region
South America

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-5D Buffalo near San Ramón: 12 killed

Date & Time: Feb 28, 1973
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-5 Buffalo
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Puerto Inca - San Ramón
Location:
San Ramón
Junín
Country:
Peru
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
While descending to San Ramón-Capitan Alvarino Airport in marginal weather conditions, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located 16 km from the airport. The wreckage was found on March 10 and all 12 occupants have been killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Douglas C-47D near Moyobamba: 6 killed

Date & Time: Apr 20, 1972 at 1620 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
OB-R-653
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Chiclayo - Moyobamba - Tarapoto
MSN:
17102/34369
YOM:
1945
Location:
Moyobamba
San Martín
Country:
Peru
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Chiclayo Airport at 1524LT on a cargo flight to Tarapoto with an intermediate stop in Moyobamba. At 1615LT, the crew contacted ATC to obtain traffic and weather information for Moyobamba Airport. Five minutes later, while cruising in clouds, the airplane struck the slope of Mt Killukichu. The wreckage was found few hours later and all six occupants have been killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the crew was flying at an insufficient altitude and under VFR mode in IMC conditions.

Crash of a Lockheed L-188A Electra near Puerto Inca: 91 killed

Date & Time: Dec 24, 1971 at 1236 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-188 Electra
Operator:
Registration:
OB-R-941
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Lima - Pucallpa - Iquitos
MSN:
1086
YOM:
1959
Flight number:
LP508
Location:
Puerto Inca
Huánuco
Country:
Peru
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
86
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
91
Circumstances:
While cruising at an altitude of 21,000 feet on a flight from Lima to Pucallpa, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with thunderstorm activity and severe turbulences. It appears that lightning struck the right wing that caught fire and later detached. As the pilot-in-command attempted to stabilize the airplane, turbulences caused a structural failure of the left wing. Out of control, the airplane dove into the ground and crashed in flames in a jungle located in a mountainous area in the region of Puerto Inca. Debris and dead bodies were found in a large area. A female passenger aged 17, Juliane Koepcke, was ejected at impact and was the only survivor. Despite her injuries (a broken collar bone, a deep gash to her right arm, a concussion and an eye injury), she walked away for 10 days and was eventually rescued by lumbermen.
Probable cause:
In-flight loss of control in bad weather conditions following structural failure of the left wing and fire of the right wing due to thunderstorm and severe turbulences.

Crash of a Douglas C-54A-10-DC Skymaster on Mt Huayca: 6 killed

Date & Time: Feb 19, 1971
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Aero Palas
Registration:
LV-JPG
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
10328
YOM:
1944
Location:
Mt Huayca
Lima
Country:
Peru
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
While on a cargo flight, the airplane struck the slope of Mt Huayca located about 90 km northeast of Lima. All six crew members were killed.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D Commando near Palca: 35 killed

Date & Time: Jan 20, 1971 at 1430 LT
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
FAP381
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Mazamari – Lima
Location:
Palca
Junín
Country:
Peru
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
30
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
35
Circumstances:
While cruising in limited visibility, the airplane struck the slope of Mt Cuti Padre located in the region of Palca, Junín. The wreckage was found few hours later and all 35 occupants have been killed. The airplane was on its way from Mazamari to Lima, carrying a crew of five and 30 passengers, 14 Police officers and 16 of their family members. It is believed the accident was the result of an in-flight technical problem.

Crash of a Lockheed L-188 Electra in Cuzco: 101 killed

Date & Time: Aug 9, 1970 at 1455 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-188 Electra
Operator:
Registration:
OB-R-939
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Cuzco - Lima
MSN:
1106
YOM:
1959
Flight number:
LP502
Location:
Cuzco-Alejandro Velasco Astete
Cuzco
Country:
Peru
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
91
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
101
Circumstances:
The airplane was departing Cuzco-Alejandro Velasco Astete Airport on a flight to Lima, carrying a crew of nine and 91 passengers, among them 49 US students who were returning to Lima following a visit of the Machu Picchu ruins. During the takeoff roll, which was 700 meters longer than normal, the engine number three failed. The takeoff procedure was continued as well as the initial climb at a speed of V2 + 15 knots. Once the altitude of 300 feet was reached, the flaps were retracted and at a speed of 140 knots, the aircraft turn left then banked left at an angle of 30-45°. Control was lost and the airplane crashed onto a hill located about 4 km east of the airport. The copilot survived while 99 other occupants and two people on the ground were killed.
Probable cause:
The probable cause of the accident was the improper execution of engine-out procedures by the flight crew, with contributing factors of improper loading of the aircraft and improper maintenance procedures by company personnel.

Crash of a Fokker F27 Friendship 400M near Huaricanga: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jun 10, 1970
Type of aircraft:
Fokker F27 Friendship
Operator:
Registration:
TC-75
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Quito - Lima - Salta - Buenos Aires
MSN:
10411
YOM:
1969
Location:
Huaricanga
Ancash
Country:
Peru
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Aircraft flight hours:
838
Aircraft flight cycles:
944
Circumstances:
While cruising at an altitude of 4,500 meters in clouds, the airplane struck a mountain located in the region of Huaricanga. Three occupants were rescued while five others were killed.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46F-1-CU Commando on Mt Vizcacha: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 31, 1970
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Transportes Aéreos Littoral - TAL
Registration:
CP-825
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
22541
YOM:
1945
Location:
Mt Vizcacha
Tacna
Country:
Peru
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
En route, the crew informed ATC about the failure of the right engine and elected to divert to Tacna or Arica for an emergency landing. The captain increase power on the left engine and realized he was unable to reach the nearest airport so he attempt to land on a plateau located on the Vizcacha Mountains. The airplane lost height and eventually crashed on a rocky area. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all four crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the failure of the right engine was the consequence of an inappropriate maintenance.

Crash of a Douglas RC-54V Skymaster on Mt Pumacona: 28 killed

Date & Time: Jan 14, 1970
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
OB-R-776
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Trujillo - Juanjuí
MSN:
10591
YOM:
1945
Location:
Mt Pumacona
San Martín
Country:
Peru
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
24
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
28
Circumstances:
En route to Juanjuí, while cruising in marginal weather conditions, the four engine airplane was off course when it struck the slope of Mt Pumacona (3,200 meters high). The wreckage was found few hours later and all 28 occupants have been killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the accident was the consequence of a controlled flight into terrain caused by an error of navigation on part of the flying crew. The following factors were considered as contributing:
- Pilot error,
- The mental state of the pilot-in-command adversely affected his judgment and efficiency,
- Poor ATC assistance,
- Poor weather conditions (low visibility),
- Inadequate navigation aids along the route.

Crash of a Lockheed L-382B-8C Hercules in Cayaya

Date & Time: Jul 16, 1969
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed C-130 Hercules
Operator:
Registration:
CF-PWO
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
4197
YOM:
1967
Location:
Cayaya
Huánuco
Country:
Peru
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The approach to Cayaya Airport was initiated in heavy rain falls and limited visibility. On short final, the airplane was too low and the right wing struck the ground and was torn off. Out of control, the airplane crashed onto the runway and came to rest. All four crew members escaped uninjured while the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Error on the part of the pilot in deciding to land in adverse weather conditions. The lack of assistance from ATC personnel at the airport was considered as a contributing factor.
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