Crash of a Lockheed L-1049H Super Constellation in Riohacha: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 15, 1978
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation
Operator:
Skyways International
Registration:
N6924C
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
4852
YOM:
1958
Location:
Riohacha
La Guajira
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll at Riohacha-Almirante Padilla Airport, the crew inadvertently retracted the landing gear before liftoff. The airplane sank on its belly and crashed in flames. Two crew members were injured while the pilot was killed.
Probable cause:
Premature retraction of the landing gear during the takeoff roll, prior to liftoff.

Crash of a Douglas DC-6B near Brus Laguna

Date & Time: Feb 17, 1978
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-6
Operator:
Skyways International
Registration:
N6523C
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
43523/230
YOM:
1952
Location:
Brus Laguna
Gracias a Dios
Country:
Honduras
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While conducting a cargo flight, the crew encountered technical problems and attempted an emergency landing when the airplane crash landed in the Brus lagoon located near Brus Laguna Airfield. All three crew members escaped with minor injuries and the aircraft was written off.

Crash of a Douglas DC-7CF near Miami: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jun 21, 1973 at 0426 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-7
Operator:
Skyways International
Registration:
N296
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Miami - La Romana
MSN:
45466/955
YOM:
1958
Location:
Miami-Intl
Florida
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
10000
Captain / Total hours on type:
3000.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1800
Aircraft flight hours:
25827
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a cargo flight from Miami to La Romana on behalf of Warnaco Inc. Shortly after a night takeoff from runway 27L at Miami-Intl Airport, while in initial climb, the crew encountered very bad weather conditions with heavy rain falls and turbulences. The airplane went out of control and crashed nose first in the Everglades National park, about 8,9 NM northwest of the airport. The aircraft was destroyed and all three crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
The loss of aircraft control, due either to turbulence or an in-flight fire or both. Inability of the crew to establish timely radio communications with the departure controller was a factor, because it delayed compliance with thunderstorm avoidance vectors
Final Report:
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