La Paz | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The aircraft was on a scheduled domestic flight from Caranavi Airport to La Paz via Tipuani. It arrived at Tipuani at 0913 hours Bolivian time, carrying a crew of three, a supernumerary crew member and a passenger for La Paz. At Tipuani, eleven adult passengers and a baby boarded the aircraft. Departure from Tipuani was at 0934:36 hours and the estimated time of arrival at La Paz was 1010 hours. The last communication with Tipuani control was made at 1002 hours when it requested permission to change to the frequency of the La Paz aerodrome control zone. When the aircraft did not enter the control zone within the normal five-minute time, an emergency was declared at 1022 hours, and at 1048 hours it was learnt from the Milluni broadcasting station that the aircraft had been seen exploding in the air and falling to earth near the cemetery of that mining area. At 1121 hours the disaster was confirmed by another aircraft, CP-621, which was flying over the area. The site of the accident was 16° 21' 00" S and 68° 10' 00" W, at an elevation estimated between 14,000 and 14,500 ft. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 17 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

A violent explosion of criminal origin inside and at the rear of the aircraft during flight, which caused the tail unit to be torn off. It was later determined that one of the passenger signed three life-insurance with three different companies in case of plane crash only.

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-25-DK in Tipuani: 4 killed

Date & Time: Aug 22, 1964

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Servicios Aéreos Cochabamba

Registration:

CP-680

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

La Paz-Tipuani

MSN:

13371

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On approach to Tipuani, the crew encountered marginal weather conditions. In limited visibility, the aircraft descended to low and struck the north slope of Mt Huayna located few km from the airport. All four occupants were killed. The flight had been delayed because of bad weather over the Cordillera mountains and over the destination Tipuani.

Probable cause:

The flight was conducted in IMC conditions at an altitude unsafe for operations of that nature through the Huayna Pass."

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas SC-47D in La Paz

Date & Time: Jun 6, 1964 at 1117 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

CP-729

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

15798/32546

YOM:

1945

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed on takeoff for unknown reasons. No injuries.

Crash of a Consolidated C-87 Liberator Express in La Paz

Date & Time: Feb 8, 1964

Type of aircraft:

Consolidated C-87 Liberator Express

Operator:

Boliviana de Aviación (1960)

Registration:

CP-575

Flight Type:

Cargo

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Suffered an accident at La Paz-El Alto Airport.

Crash of a Boeing B-17G-DL Flying Fortress in La Paz

Date & Time: Dec 18, 1963

Type of aircraft:

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress

Operator:

Servicios Aéreos Cochabamba

Registration:

CP-694

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

8733

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Suffered an accident at La Paz-El Alto Airport. Occupant's fate unknown.

Crash of a Boeing B-17F-BO Flying Fortress in Reyes

Date & Time: Feb 23, 1963

Type of aircraft:

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress

Operator:

Registration:

CP-624

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

22779

YOM:

1941

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances. No casualties.

Crash of a Douglas DC-7B in La Paz

Date & Time: Oct 29, 1962 at 1508 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-7

Operator:

Registration:

N51702

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

La Paz – Miami

MSN:

44702

YOM:

1955

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The four engine aircraft suffered an accident while taking off from La Paz-El Alto Airport, en route to Miami-Intl. The aircraft was written off while all 42 occupants were evacuated safely.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-90-DL in Alcoche: 4 killed

Date & Time: Sep 10, 1962 at 0816 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

CP-710

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Caranavi – Rurrenabaque

MSN:

20230

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

7692

Captain / Total hours on type:

5500.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

398

Copilot / Total hours on type:

155

Circumstances:

The aircraft was on a non-scheduled domestic flight from Caranavi to Rurrenabaque It took off from Caranavi at 0806/10 hours local time. The aircraft flew for 7 minutes on a true heading of approximately 320°. When it was over Alcoche, 21 km from Caranavi, at an estimated altitude of 3500 - 4000 feet, ground witnesses noticed the left engine ceased functioning and that an increase of power was applied to the other engine. The aircraft was then seen to be flying with the right wing ahead of the left and a few seconds later the aircraft started turning left towards the widest part of the valley in which the aircraft was flying. During the turn the aircraft assumed an almost inverted attitude but it recovered. From the flight path described by witnesses the nose of the aircraft went up twice before going into a 180° change of direction and before crashing into the river. The aircraft struck the surface in a level attitude with a high rate of vertical descent There was no forward movement on impact. The force of impact was so great as to flatten the lower surface of the left wing and the fuselage. The floor of the fuselage was forced to the ceiling.

Probable cause:

The primary cause of the accident was the failure of the left engine and execution of a sharp 180° turn to the left of the original flight path. This was the only possible manoeuvre since the valley ahead narrowed and a turn to the right could not be effected, because the aircraft was close to - and below the altitude of - a mountain on that side. Furthermore, this manoeuvre was the only one permitting the aircraft to reach that part of the river, which appeared most suitable for ditching.

Final Report: