Country
Colombia
code

Cundinamarca

Crash of a Douglas C-47 near Chipaque: 11 killed

Date & Time: Jan 6, 1966 at 1822 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
FAC-675
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Bogotá – Barranca de Upía – San Pedro de Arimena – Orocué – San Luis de Palenque – Aguazul – Monterrey – Paz de Ariporo – Cravo Norte – Coroza – Tame – Bogotá
Location:
Chipaque
Cundinamarca
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
The aircraft was completing a special flight out from Bogotá and return on behalf of the Bank of Bogotá, carrying people from isolated area. Following stopover in Barranca de Upía, San Pedro de Arimena, Orocué, San Luis de Palenque, Aguazul, Monterrey, Paz de Ariporo, Cravo Norte, Coroza and Tame, the aircraft was returning to the capital city with nine passengers and two pilots on board. About eight minutes before the ETA at El Dorado Airport, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located near Chipaque. The aircraft was destroyed and all 11 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas B-18A Bolo in San Pedro de Jagua: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jun 29, 1965
Type of aircraft:
Douglas B-18 Bolo
Operator:
Registration:
HK-537
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
2534
YOM:
1937
Location:
San Pedro de Jagua
Cundinamarca
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances while completing a cargo flight, carrying a load of food. All three crew members were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-5-DK in Facatativá: 28 killed

Date & Time: Mar 8, 1964 at 1845 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
HK-862
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Pereira – Bogotá
MSN:
12374
YOM:
1944
Location:
Facatativá
Cundinamarca
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
25
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
28
Circumstances:
The DC-3 took off from Pereira at 17:24 for a flight to Bogotá, via reporting points El Paso, Girardot and La Esperanza. The aircraft arrived overhear La Esperanza at 18:18 and was instructed to hold there at FL130. The flight was cleared to leave the intersection at 18:33 to the Bogotá VOR. The crew estimated to arrive over the Bogotá VOR at 18:44 and were then instructed to descend to FL120 for an ADF approach to Bogotá Airport, reporting at the Bogotá VOR at FL120 and over the outer marker at 9800 feet. The plane arrived abeam the Bogotá VOR ahead of schedule, at 18:41, and was instructed to maintain FL120 until 18:44. At 18:42 the flight crew reported seeing another aircraft in their vicinity. They thought it to be a DC-4, but was actually a Curtiss C-46 which had been cleared for final approach. The DC-3 crew took evasive action, losing control of the aircraft. The DC-3 crashed near Facatativá.
Probable cause:
The pilot of the aircraft in observing the presence of another aircraft abruptly initiated a right turn which ended in an abnormal 'nose below the horizon' attitude, which he was unable to rectify in time. The following factors were considered as contributing:
- Error of other personnel: The pilot of the other aircraft initiated the instrument descent from 12,000 feet after 2 min 55 sec, when the normal time would have been 1 min 15 or 20 sec, in accordance with the procedures laid down in the Bogotá approach-to-land chart and the Manual of Colombian Air Routes approved by the Administrative Directorate of Civil Aeronautics, thereby creating a risk of collision in the air;
- The pilot of the subject aircraft had been flying on DC-4s and C-46s as well as DC-3s. The psychological reaction of the pilot at a critical moment was certainly affected by habits acquired on DC-4 and C-46 aircraft.
- Possible failure of equipment (faulty distribution of flight instruments in the cockpit): This is a design effect, since the artificial horizon in the subject type of aircraft was hidden behind the pilot's control column, which made it more difficult to control the flight posture of the machine.

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 680 in Puerto Salgar: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 5, 1958
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Aero Commander 680
Operator:
Registration:
FAC-552
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Palanquero – Puerto Salgar
MSN:
680-453-123
YOM:
1958
Location:
Puerto Salgar-Capitan Germán Olano Moreno
Cundinamarca
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
On final approach to Puerto Salgar-Capitan Germán Olano Moreno Airport, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed into the Río Magdalena. Both crew members were killed.

Crash of a Douglas B-26C Invader near Madrid AFB: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 29, 1958 at 0830 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-26 Invader
Operator:
Registration:
FAC-2512
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Palanquero – Madrid – Apiay
MSN:
27437
YOM:
1944
Location:
Madrid AFB
Cundinamarca
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Palanquero Airport at 0730LT. While approaching Madrid AFB near Bogotá, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances, killing all three crew members.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina near Cáqueza: 14 killed

Date & Time: Dec 8, 1956 at 0705 LT
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
HK-133
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Bogotá – Medellín - Quibdó
MSN:
21998
YOM:
1943
Location:
Cáqueza
Cundinamarca
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
14
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Santa Cecilia Airport, Bogotá at 0647LT bound for Medellín and Quibdó, carrying a crew of 5 and 11 passengers. Take-off was made at a time when the airport was closed due to poor visibility. While flying on instruments a few moments after take-off, the starboard engine failed. The aircraft continued its flight over the Sabana de Bogotá for approximately 23 minutes, following which, while flying on a magnetic heading of approximately 280 degrees, it crashed violently (at approximately 0705LT) against the Quetame Hill located near Cáqueza, about 30 km southeast of Bogotá, at an elevation of 9,170 feet. The flight engineer and one passenger were injured while 14 other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The probable cause of the accident was a complete failure of the starboard engine due to the breakdown of the lubricating system. The following factors were considered as contributing:
- Recklessness of the pilot in taking off from a closed airport while aware of the poor weather conditions prevailing throughout the Sabana, a circumstance which prevented returning to the airport of departure when complete breakdown of the starboard engine occurred,
- The 1,506 kg overload of the aircraft above the maximum gross operating weight for Bogotá according to the performance curves of the aircraft,
- The adverse weather conditions prevailing from the moment of take-off until the moment of the accident,
- An error of judgment on the part of the Operations and Maintenance Sections of the Company in failing to provide for a test flight of the aircraft after the turbine section had been changed and in finding aircraft HK-133 airworthy for the purpose of a scheduled flight with passengers under such conditions,
- The lack of competent air traffic and weather authorities at Santa Cecilia airport in a position to check civil aviation regulations and to prohibit take off from a closed airport,
- Faulty internal organization within AIDA which should have defined exactly the duties of the Maintenance Superintendent, of the Maintenance Chief and of the Dispatcher,
- The failure of the Company to have available a spare engine which would have avoided carrying out such delicate repair work in a hasty manner.
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver in Salto Del Tequendama: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jun 24, 1955
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver
Operator:
Registration:
FAC-113
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Bogotá – Melgar
MSN:
532
YOM:
1953
Location:
Salto Del Tequendama
Cundinamarca
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Weather conditions deteriorated enroute and the single engine aircraft crashed near Salto Del Tequendama, killing all three occupants. The airplane left Bogotá-Techo Airport at 1030LT.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-90-DL near Madrid AFB

Date & Time: Jan 31, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
HK-311
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Cali – Bogotá
MSN:
20183
YOM:
1944
Location:
Madrid AFB
Cundinamarca
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route to Bogotá, an engine failed in flight, forcing the crew to divert to Madrid AFB. While descending, the crew was forced to attempt an emergency landing in a field and the aircraft crash landed few km from the airbase. Both crew members were unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 near Bojacá: 32 killed

Date & Time: Aug 13, 1949 at 1330 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Servicios Aéreos Tolima
Registration:
HK-1200
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Bogotá – Ibagué
Location:
Bojacá
Cundinamarca
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
29
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
32
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from Bogotá-Techo Airport, while in initial climb, the aircraft went out of control and crashed on a mountain located near Bojacá, about 20 km northwest of Bogotá. All 32 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 in Madrid AFB: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 25, 1948 at 1542 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
662
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Madrid - Madrid
Location:
Madrid AFB
Cundinamarca
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training sortie in Madrid AFB. On final approach, the twin engine aircraft collided with a private Luscombe that just took off from the same runway. Both aircraft went out of control and crashed near the runway threshold. All four crew members on board the C-47 and the pilot of the Luscombe were killed.
Probable cause:
The pilot of the Luscombe started the takeoff procedure without authorization from ATC. At the time of the collision, the crew of the C-47 just received the permission to land from ATC.
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