South America | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

While cruising at an altitude of 25,000 feet on a cargo flight from Yopal to Mitú, the crew was cleared to descend to 7,000 feet for an approach to runway 01 at Mitú-Fabio Alberto León Bentley Airport. Few minutes later, while descending at an altitude of 23,300 feet, the aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in a mountainous and isolated area located about 135 km northwest of Mitú Airport. The wreckage was found 10 days later, on December 28, at coordinates N 002° 19' 15'' W 070° 47' 13''. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all three crew members were killed.

Probable cause:

At the time of the accident, weather conditions were good, the crew was fit for flying and the flight conditions were considered as normal. It was determined that the crew noted two consecutives loud 'bang' before control was lost, and it is believed that the aircraft suffered a structural failure of undetermined origin at the altitude of 23,300 feet.

Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing 737-200 in Lima

Date & Time: Dec 13, 2003 at 2248 LT

Type of aircraft:

Boeing 737-200

Operator:

Registration:

OB-1544-P

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Caracas - Lima

MSN:

20956

YOM:

1974

Flight number:

ACQ341

Location:

Lima-Callao-Jorge Chávez

Lima

Country:

Peru

Region:

South America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

25502

Copilot / Total flying hours:

2229

Aircraft flight hours:

62716

Aircraft flight cycles:

62162

Circumstances:

Following an uneventful flight from Caracas, the crew started the approach to Lima-Callao-Jorge Chávez Airport when the crew noted an asymmetric warning with the flaps. The crew decided to continue the approach but failed to lower the undercarriage. The aircraft belly landed at a speed of 190 knots and slid on runway 15 for 2,347 metres before coming to rest. All 100 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Failure of the crew to verify and check the Non Normal Checklist of the Quick Reference Handbook (QRH) due to technical problems at the time of approach and landing, causing the omission of the extension of the gear and subsequent contact of the aircraft with the runway with landing gear retracted. The following findings were identified:
- During the approach, an indication of flap asymmetry presented.
- Due to the tightness of the itinerary programmed by the company, the total flight hours and the flight's working day were within the limits of the maximum allowed by the RAP, which could have influenced (due to fatigue) the poor performance by the crew.
- The lack of recording of some parameters of the flight recorders (FDR and CVR) prevented the resolution of some important and useful details for the investigation.
- The flap asymmetry indication, due to an indication fault in the Flap Position Indicator caused by high electrical resistance originating from the winding inside the synchro transmitter of the right side Flap Position Transmitter.
- The omission of the use in the approach phase of the procedures described in the QRH for this type of abnormal situations.
- The lack of decision to carry out a Go Around, taking into account that the period of time to carry out the QRH procedures for this abnormal situation was not going to be enough.
- Overconfidence (complacency) during the approach phase under abnormal conditions (indication of flap asymmetry).
- Lack of Crew Resource Management during the approach and landing phases, especially under abnormal conditions.
- Lack of leadership during the abnormal situation presented.
- Lack of communication with the Control Tower about the abnormal conditions in which the approach and landing were to be carried out.
- Itinerary very adjusted to the limits of flight hours and working hours, established by the RAP.

Final Report:

Crash of a Short SC.7 Skyvan 3M Variant 100 in Georgetown: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 8, 2003 at 1100 LT

Type of aircraft:

Short SC.7 Skyvan Variant

Operator:

Registration:

8R-GMC

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Georgetown – Ekereku

MSN:

1959

YOM:

1978

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

One minute after takeoff from Georgetown-Ogle Airport runway 24, the pilot declared an emergency after an engine failed. He elected to return for an emergency landing but eventually attempted to land in a sugarcane field when the aircraft crashed near the airport. Five people were seriously injured while two others were killed.

Probable cause:

Failure of the right engine during initial climb for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Fairchild-Hiller FH-227B in Buenos Aires: 5 killed

Date & Time: Oct 26, 2003 at 0430 LT

Type of aircraft:

Fairchild-Hiller FH-227

Operator:

Registration:

LV-MGV

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Buenos Aires - Corrientes

MSN:

567

YOM:

1967

Flight number:

CTZ760

Location:

Buenos Aires-Ezeiza-Ministro Pistarini

Buenos Aires City

Country:

Argentina

Region:

South America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

27650

Aircraft flight cycles:

21574

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Buenos Aires-Ezeiza-Ministro Pistarini Airport runway 17, while climbing by night, the crew reported technical problems. ATC cleared the crew for an immediate return and land. On final approach, the situation worsened and the crew apparently attempted an emergency landing on the Esperanza Golf Course when the aircraft struck a tree and crashed 5 km short of runway 35, bursting into flames. The aircraft was totally destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all five occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Failure of the left engine during initial climb for undetermined reasons. At the time of the accident, the aircraft was overload and operated over the MTOW. At impact, the left propeller was feathered while the right engine was running at full power.

Final Report:

Crash of a Fokker F27 Friendship 600 in Tarauacá

Date & Time: Oct 20, 2003 at 1132 LT

Type of aircraft:

Fokker F27 Friendship

Operator:

Registration:

PT-TVA

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Cruzeiro do Sul – Tarauacá – Rio Branco

MSN:

10334

YOM:

1967

Flight number:

TVJ6167

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

12000

Captain / Total hours on type:

3797.00

Copilot / Total hours on type:

2682

Aircraft flight hours:

55725

Aircraft flight cycles:

60270

Circumstances:

After landing at Tarauacá Airport, the crew started the braking procedure when control was lost. The aircraft veered off runway, collided with several obstacles and came to rest in a ditch. All 23 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Loss of control after landing after the crew selected the power levers on 'ground fine pitch', combined with the failure of the antiskid system due to poor maintenance. The operator was facing enormous financial difficulties which affected the motivation of the maintenance, flight and cabin crew, which was considered as a contributing factor.

Final Report:

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2T near La Paragua

Date & Time: Oct 13, 2003

Type of aircraft:

PZL-Mielec AN-2

Operator:

Aéreo Transporte La Montaña

Registration:

YV-901C

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

La Paragua – Urimán

MSN:

1G238-27

YOM:

1991

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Few minutes after takeoff from La Paragua, the pilot encountered engine problems and elected to make an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed and was damaged beyond repair. The pilot escaped uninjured.

Probable cause:

Engine problems of unknown origin.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2TP in Urimán: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 11, 2003 at 1600 LT

Type of aircraft:

PZL-Mielec AN-2

Operator:

Registration:

YV-1128C

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Ferry

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

MSN:

1G238-12

YOM:

1990

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Urimán Airport, while in initial climb, the single engine aircraft stalled and crashed in the Caroni River. The captain was killed and the copilot was injured. The aircraft was destroyed. Possible engine failure.

Crash of a Beechcraft C-12C Huron near Charallave: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 10, 2003

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft C-12 Huron

Operator:

Jicarilla Game & Fish Commission

Registration:

N48JA

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Delivery

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Caracas – Charallave

MSN:

BC-51

YOM:

1978

Location:

Charallave-Óscar Machado Zuloaga

Miranda

Country:

Venezuela

Region:

South America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Lost without trace on a delivery flight from Caracas to Charallave. The wreckage was not found. Both occupants are presumed dead.

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo near Urabá: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 12, 2003 at 1930 LT

Type of aircraft:

Piper PA-31-310 Navajo

Operator:

Registration:

XB-BAQ

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Medellín – Panama City

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While cruising under VFR mode by night and marginal weather conditions, the twin engine struck the slope of a mountain located near Urabá. The aircraft left the airport of Medellín-Enrique Olaya Herrera at 1700LT with a Mexican pilot and a Colombian passenger on board bound for Panama City. The aircraft was destroyed and both occupants were killed.