Santa Cruz | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

En route, weather conditions worsened and the crew was cleared to modify his route to avoid bad weather. Later, the crew lost control of the airplane that crashed near Laguna Soliz. All seven occupants were killed.

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 680 in Corralito

Date & Time: Dec 8, 1978

Type of aircraft:

Rockwell Grand Commander 680

Operator:

Norberto Salmon

Registration:

CP-1087

Flight Type:

Site:

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances. Occupant fate unknown.

Crash of a Convair CV-440-86 Metropolitan in San Ramón: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 24, 1978

Type of aircraft:

Convair CV-440 Metropolitan

Operator:

Registration:

TAM-45

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

406

YOM:

1957

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from San Ramón Airport, the right engine failed. The pilot was cleared to return for an emergency landing. After touchdown, the airplane veered off runway and collided with a hangar. All occupants escaped uninjured while one person in the hangar was killed.

Probable cause:

Failure of the right engine after takeoff for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Boeing 707-131F in Santa Cruz: 113 killed

Date & Time: Oct 13, 1976 at 1332 LT

Type of aircraft:

Boeing 707

Operator:

Registration:

N730JP

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

City

Schedule:

Santa Cruz - Miami

MSN:

17671

YOM:

1959

Location:

Santa Cruz-El Trompillo

Santa Cruz

Country:

Bolivia

Region:

South America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

113

Circumstances:

After a long takeoff roll, the airplane took off from runway 32 but encountered serious difficulties to gain sufficient height. After liftoff, the airplane continued at a height of about six metres then struck successively trees, houses and power cables before crashing in a huge explosion on a soccer field located about 560 metres past the runway end. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and several houses and buildings were destroyed. All three crew members were killed as well as 110 people on the ground. 32 others were injured, most of them seriously. Weather conditions at the time of the accident were considered as marginal but did not contribute to the mishap.

Probable cause:

It was reported that the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) was unserviceable at the time of the accident while the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) contained only few information as the main cockpit mike was inoperative. Investigators confirmed that the accident was not caused by any engine failure, flight control malfunction or any structural failure. It is believed that the accident was the consequence of a poor flight preparation and wrong takeoff configuration on part of the crew who failed to select the correct takeoff speed. The following factors were considered as contributing:
- Crew fatigue,
- Wrong interpretation of the takeoff situation,
- Non interruption of the takeoff procedure.

Crash of an IAI Arava 201 near Itaguazurenda: 19 killed

Date & Time: Mar 2, 1976

Type of aircraft:

IAI Arava 201

Operator:

Registration:

TAM-76

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Camiri - Itaguazurenda

MSN:

YOM:

1975

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The twin engine airplane departed Camiri on a short flight to Itaguazurenda, carrying 18 passengers and a crew of four. En route, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in a mountainous and wooded area located between localities separated by 50 km. The wreckage was found two days later. Three passengers were injured while 19 other occupants were killed.

Crash of a Cessna 207 Skywagon in Santa Rosa del Sara

Date & Time: Jan 31, 1976

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 207 Skywagon/Stationair

Operator:

Registration:

CP-1022

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Yes

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:

After takeoff, while climbing, the single engine airplane collided with two vulture, stalled and crashed in a swampy area. There were no casualties.

Probable cause:

Collision with birds during initial climb.

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 680 in Santa Cruz

Date & Time: Feb 15, 1974

Type of aircraft:

Rockwell Aero Commander 680

Operator:

Roberto Suarez

Registration:

CP-989

Flight Type:

Private

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Location:

Santa Cruz

Country:

Bolivia

Region:

South America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances near the Santa Cruz Airport. The occupant's fate remains unknown.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-10-CU Commando in Santa Ana

Date & Time: Dec 7, 1973

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Transaéreos Illimani

Registration:

CP-910

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

33234

YOM:

1945

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While descending to Santa Ana Airport, the left engine failed and caught fire. The crew was able to continue the approach, landed safely and stopped the airplane on the runway. While all four occupants evacuated safely, the aircraft was destroyed by fire.

Probable cause:

Engine failure and fire on approach.

Crash of aCurtiss C-46A-15-CU Commando on Mt Picon: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 22, 1973

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Air Bolivia

Registration:

CP-969

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

MSN:

26513

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While on a cargo flight, the airplane struck the slope of Mt Picon. The wreckage was found few hours later and all three crew members have been killed.