Country
Bolivia
code

Beni

Crash of a Curtiss C-46F-1-CU Commando in San Borja

Date & Time: Jun 6, 1975
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Transaéreos Illimani
Registration:
CP-941
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
22446
YOM:
1945
Location:
San Borja-Capitán Germán Quiroga Guardia
Beni
Country:
Bolivia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
At liftoff, the twin engine airplane stalled and crashed for unknown reasons. All four occupants were slightly injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46-A-5-CU Commando in Beni: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 10, 1975
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
CP-992
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Trinidad - Beni
MSN:
26433
YOM:
1943
Location:
Beni
Beni
Country:
Bolivia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
On approach to Beni Airport, the airplane struck a hill located few km short of runway. All three occupants were killed.

Crash of a Convair CV-440-59 Metropolitan near San Borja: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 7, 1975
Type of aircraft:
Convair CV-440 Metropolitan
Operator:
Registration:
CP-961
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
San Borja - La Paz
MSN:
467
YOM:
1958
Location:
San Borja-Capitán Germán Quiroga Guardia
Beni
Country:
Bolivia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
25
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from San Borja-Capitán Germán Quiroga Guardia Airport, the crew informed ATC about a hydraulic leak on the right engine and was cleared to return. While descending, the crew was unable to maintain a safe altitude and decided to attempt an emergency landing in an open field. On touchdown, the tail separated and the airplane came to rest in flames. A passenger was killed while 28 other occupants were evacuated, some of them were injured.

Crash of a Lockheed 18-56 LodeStar near Normandia

Date & Time: Mar 3, 1974
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 18 LodeStar
Operator:
L. Eduardo
Registration:
CP-1024
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
2489
YOM:
1943
Location:
Normandia
Beni
Country:
Bolivia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route, the right engine caught fire. The crew decided to reduce his altitude and attempted an emergency landing. The airplane crash landed in an open field and came to rest in flames. While both occupants escaped uninjured, the aircraft was destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
Right engine fire in flight.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-45-CU Commando near San Ignacio de Moxos: 7 killed

Date & Time: Feb 23, 1974
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
CP-1052
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Trinidad - Oruro
MSN:
30195
YOM:
1944
Location:
San Ignacio de Moxos
Beni
Country:
Bolivia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
En route from Trinidad to Oruro, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with turbulences when control was lost. The airplane crashed on the slope of a mountain located in the region of San Ignacio de Moxos. The wreckage was found two days later and all seven occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the ropes securing the cargo failed while the aircraft was subject to atmospheric turbulences, causing the CofG to be modified and the cargo to shift. In such conditions, the airplane became uncontrollable.

Crash of a Douglas DC-7B in Trinidad

Date & Time: Dec 13, 1973
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-7
Operator:
Aerolineas Comerciales Nacionales - ALCON
Registration:
CP-1048
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
45453/958
YOM:
1958
Location:
Trinidad-Jorge Heinrich Arauz
Beni
Country:
Bolivia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
29
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following a normal landing at Trinidad-Jorge Heinrich Arauz Airport, the crew completed a 180 turn followed by a backtrack procedure to join the apron. Doing so, the visibility was reduced by dust which had been raised during the engine reverse operation. The crew failed to realize the aircraft departed the runway to the right when the right wing struck two parked tractors. Fuel tanks were punctured and a fire broke out. The crew immediately stopped the airplane and all 33 occupants evacuated the cabin. There were no injuries but the aircraft was destroyed by fire.

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 680 in Rancho Alegre

Date & Time: Nov 1, 1973
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Grand Commander 680
Operator:
Registration:
CP-1003
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
Rancho Alegre
Beni
Country:
Bolivia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route, an engine failed. The crew attempted an emergency landing when the airplane crashed in a swampy area in Rancho Alegre. There were no casualties while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Engine failure in flight.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-40-CU Commando in Trinidad: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 7, 1972 at 1757 LT
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
CP-959
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
26903
YOM:
1944
Location:
Trinidad
Beni
Country:
Bolivia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
After a run of 1,200 meters on runway 31, the pilot-in-command completed the rotation. During initial climb, while at a height of 20 meters, the airplane banked left then stalled and struck the runway surface. Out of control, it veered off runway lost its undercarriage then went through a fence and collided with trees. All six passengers were injured while both pilots were killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control during initial climb caused by the failure of the left engine.

Crash of a Curtiss CW-20T Commando in San Pedro Richard

Date & Time: Sep 3, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
CP-752
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
San Pedro Richard – La Paz
MSN:
22544
YOM:
1945
Location:
San Pedro Richard (Laguna Portia)
Beni
Country:
Bolivia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll at San Pedro Richard Airfield (grassy runway) located west of Laguna Portia, Beni, the crew encountered technical problems with the left engine whose propeller oversped. As the end of the runway was approaching, the pilot-in-command decided to continue the takeoff roll when the airplane overran and went through a dip area. The left main gear collapsed, causing the left engine to struck the ground and to be torn off. The airplane came to rest 80 meters further and came to rest. All four occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Engine problems on takeoff for undetermined reason.
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