Country
Colombia
code

Arauca

Crash of a Douglas DC-3C near Tame: 8 killed

Date & Time: Mar 18, 1999 at 1630 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
HK-337
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Cúcuta – Yopal
MSN:
11831
YOM:
1943
Location:
Tame
Arauca
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Captain / Total flying hours:
7838
Captain / Total hours on type:
7623.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1146
Copilot / Total hours on type:
940
Aircraft flight hours:
29475
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Cúcuta-Camilo Daza Airport at 1533LT on a charter flight to Yopal, carrying five passengers, three crew members and a load of 2,500 kilos of various goods. About an hour into the flight, while cruising over the El Cocuy National Park, the aircraft encountered unfavorable currents, lost height and crashed in an isolated and mountainous area located about 45 km west of Tame. The wreckage was found on 12 April 1999 and all eight occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Possible loss of control of the aircraft due to the presence of strong air currents or windshear, accompanied by extreme turbulences that caused the aircraft to lose height and struck the ground. Inadequate planning of the en route flight, overflying the mountain range apparently with the purpose of performing the operation in less time.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 402B in Arauca: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 16, 1991 at 0600 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 402
Operator:
Registration:
HK-2172
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Arauca – Saravena
MSN:
402B-1371
YOM:
1978
Location:
Arauca-Santiago Pérez Quiroz
Arauca
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Arauca-Santiago Pérez Quiroz Airport, while in initial climb, one of the engine failed. The crew attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft struck a pole and crashed. A pilot was killed and four other occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
Engine failure during initial climb for unknown reasons.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 near Tame: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jun 11, 1989 at 1015 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter
Operator:
Registration:
HK-2486
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Yopal - Tame
MSN:
676
YOM:
1980
Location:
Tame
Arauca
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
20
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
While descending to Tame-Gustavo Vargas Santos Airport in IMC conditions, the crew failed to realize his altitude was too low when the aircraft struck a mountain located few km from Tame. Six passengers were killed while 16 other occupants were injured.

Crash of a Cessna 402 on Mt Cuilato: 9 killed

Date & Time: Sep 26, 1987
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 402
Operator:
Registration:
FAC-5530
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Carimagua - Saravena
Location:
Mt Cuilato
Arauca
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
While cruising at an altitude of 9,000 feet, the twin engine aircraft struck the slope of Mt Cuilato located southwest of Saravena. As the aircraft failed to arrive at destination, SAR operations were initiated but eventually suspended on 15 October 1987 as no trace of the aircraft nor the nine occupants was found. The wreckage was localized in an isolated area on 30 March 2000.

Crash of a Sud-Aviation SE-210 Caravelle 11R in Arauca

Date & Time: Nov 27, 1986
Type of aircraft:
Sud-Aviation SE-210 Caravelle
Operator:
Registration:
HK-2850
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Arauca – Bogotá
MSN:
261
YOM:
1972
Location:
Arauca-Santiago Pérez Quiroz
Arauca
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll at Arauca-Santiago Pérez Quiroz Airport, the crew encountered technical problems with the elevators that seemed to be 'jammed'. The takeoff procedure was abandoned and the crew initiated an emergency braking maneuver. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overran and struck a drainage ditch. The undercarriage collapsed and the aircraft came to rest on its belly. All four crew members escaped uninjured.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 near Tame: 13 killed

Date & Time: Apr 27, 1986 at 0835 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter
Operator:
Registration:
HK-2761
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Bogotá – Saravena
MSN:
780
YOM:
1982
Location:
Tame
Arauca
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft was cruising at an altitude of 8,500 feet in marginal weather conditions when it struck the slope of a mountain located about 18 km east of Tame, some 50 km south of Saravena. The aircraft was destroyed and all 13 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of an IAI Arava 201 in Puerto Rondón

Date & Time: Jun 2, 1982 at 0955 LT
Type of aircraft:
IAI Arava 201
Operator:
Registration:
FAC-951
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Puerto Rondón – Yopal
MSN:
65
YOM:
1980
Flight number:
573
Location:
Puerto Rondón
Arauca
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
19
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed while taking off from Puerto Rondón Airport for unknown reasons. Sixteen occupants were injured while six other escaped uninjured.

Crash of a Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain in Saravena: 10 killed

Date & Time: Apr 29, 1982 at 0900 LT
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain
Operator:
Registration:
HK-2398
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Bogotá – Saravena
MSN:
31-7952231
YOM:
1979
Location:
Saravena-Los Colonizadores
Arauca
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
On approach to Saravena-Los Colonizadores Airport, the crew encountered technical problems. The airplane went out of control and crashed in a pasture located about 7 km from the airfield. The aircraft was destroyed and all 10 occupants were killed, among them six employees of Ecopetrol and two employees of the Parker Drilling Company.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver in Arauca

Date & Time: Jun 28, 1976
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver
Operator:
Alas Colombia
Registration:
HK-84
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Demonstration
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Arauca - Arauca
MSN:
61
YOM:
1949
Location:
Arauca-Santiago Pérez Quiroz
Arauca
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local demo flight at Arauca-Santiago Pérez Quiroz Airport. While flying at low height, the single engine airplane went out of control and crashed by the runway. Both occupants were injured.

Crash of a Douglas DC-4 in Arauca

Date & Time: Jul 16, 1975
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-4
Operator:
Registration:
HK-654
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
18391
YOM:
1944
Location:
Arauca-Santiago Pérez Quiroz
Arauca
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After touchdown at Arauca-Santiago Pérez Quiroz Airport, the nose gear collapsed. The airplane slid on its nose for dozen meters before coming to rest. All eight occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Failure of the nose gear for unknown reason.
Subscribe to Arauca