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 Douglas C-47B-45-DK off Faleolo: 32 killed

Date & Time: Jan 13, 1970 at 0254 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
5W-FAC
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Faleolo - Pago Pago
MSN:
16964/34224
YOM:
1945
Flight number:
PH208B
Location:
Faleolo
All Samoa Islands
Country:
Samoa Islands (Western Samoa)
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
29
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
32
Circumstances:
One minute after takeoff from Faleolo Airport, while climbing, the airplane entered a low pressure area with thunderstorm activity, rain falls, turbulences and windshear. The airplane went out of control and crashed into the sea few hundred yards offshore. It exploded while contacting the water surface and all 32 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control caused by severe turbulences and probable windshear.

Crash of a Fokker F27 Friendship 600 in La Palma

Date & Time: Jan 5, 1970
Type of aircraft:
Fokker F27 Friendship
Operator:
Registration:
EC-BOD
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
10360
YOM:
1968
Location:
La Palma (La Palma Island)
Canary Islands
Country:
Spain
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
46
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
1992
Aircraft flight cycles:
3983
Circumstances:
The landing at La Palma Airport was completed with a tailwind component on a wet runway 03. After touchdown, the airplane was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overran and came to rest down an embankment. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off.

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-47A-25-DK in Luang Prabang: 6 killed

Date & Time: Dec 23, 1969
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Laos Air Charter
Registration:
XW-TDJ
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Vientiane - Luang Prabang
MSN:
13529
YOM:
1944
Location:
Luang Prabang
Louangphabang Province
Country:
Laos
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
On final approach, the pilot failed to realize his altitude was too low when a wing struck trees. The airplane lost height and crashed on a hillside located few km from the airport. Both pilots and four passengers were killed.

Crash of a Vickers 815 Viscount in Luxembourg

Date & Time: Dec 22, 1969
Type of aircraft:
Vickers Viscount
Operator:
Registration:
LX-LGC
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Frankfurt - Luxembourg
MSN:
376
YOM:
1959
Flight number:
LG303
Location:
Luxembourg-Findel
All Luxembourg
Country:
Luxembourg
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft landed on a slippery runway due to wet snow. It went out of control, veered off runway and lost its nose gear before coming to rest. All occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Douglas DC-6B in Nha Trang: 34 killed

Date & Time: Dec 22, 1969
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-6
Operator:
Registration:
B-2005
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
City
Schedule:
Saigon - Nha Trang
MSN:
44694
YOM:
1955
Location:
Nha Trang
Khánh Hòa Province
Country:
Vietnam
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
70
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
34
Circumstances:
While approaching Nha Trang on a flight from Saigon, the pilot informed ATC about an explosion on board and that control was heavy. The hydraulic system failed so the undercarriage must be lowered manually. The captain decided to perform a low pass over the runway to check the landing gear with ATC. That made, the crew completed a nose high and flapless landing shortly later. After touchdown just over the threshold, the crew activated the reverse thrust systems when the airplane became airborne. So the throttles were closed and the aircraft landed again but too far down the runway. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, it overran, struck a concrete pylon and several obstacles before coming to rest in flames in a popular area. Ten passengers and 24 people on the ground were killed. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire.
Probable cause:
It was determined that a bomb placed in the front left lavatory exploded in flight, causing a 1,5 m hole in the fuselage and damaging the hydraulic lines.

Crash of a Fairchild F-27J in Inuvik

Date & Time: Dec 20, 1969
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild F27
Operator:
Registration:
CF-GNG
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
114
YOM:
1965
Location:
Inuvik
Northwest Territories
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Upon landing at Inuvik Airport, the airplane went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the loss of control was the consequence of a technical issue with propellers as only one was in fine pitch, causing asymmetric thrust.

Crash of an Avro 748-2A-235 in Uberlândia

Date & Time: Dec 14, 1969
Type of aircraft:
Avro 748
Operator:
Registration:
PP-VDQ
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
1628
YOM:
1968
Location:
Uberlândia
Minas Gerais
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Uberlândia Airport, while at an altitude of 500 feet, the pilot decided to make a go-around as his position was wrong. Suddenly, the airplane banked right, stalled and crashed in a field located 1,400 meters short of runway 04 threshold. The wreckage was found 900 meter to the right of the extended centerline. All nine occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.
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