Tarija | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

During the takeoff roll at Yacuiba Airport, at V2 speed, the right engine lost power. The captain decided to continue the takeoff procedure. During initial climb, decision was taken to return for an emergency landing and the crew shut down the right engine and feathered its propeller. After touchdown on runway 20, the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overran, lost its nose gear and collided with bushes and small trees, coming to rest about 50 metres past the runway end. All 21 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

The accident was the consequence of the combination of the following factors:
- Excessive speed upon landing,
- Delayed application of the brake systems,
- The runway length available was limited according to the conditions in force,
- The total weight of the aircraft upon landing,
- The aircraft configuration,
- The direction and intensity of the wind,
- An inadequate crew training.
Additionally, the exact cause of the loss of power on the right engine was not clearly determined at the time the final report was published.

Final Report:

Crash of a Swearingen SA226TC Metro II in La Vertiente: 10 killed

Date & Time: Dec 12, 1997 at 1705 LT

Type of aircraft:

Swearingen SA226 Metro II

Operator:

Servicios y Transportes Aéreos Petroleros - STAP

Registration:

CP-1635

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

La Vertiente - Santa Cruz

MSN:

TC-359

YOM:

1980

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

After takeoff from runway 01/19 at La Vertiente Airport, both engines lost power. The aircraft lost height, struck trees and crashed in a field some 300 metres past the runway end. A crew member and nine passengers were killed while nine other occupants were injured. The aircraft was completing a charter flight to Santa Cruz-Viru Viru Airport on behalf of Servicios Aéreos Vargas de España (SAVE), carrying employees of the Tesoro Bolivia Petroleum Company based in San Antonio, Texas.

Probable cause:

Loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46F-1-CU Commando in Estencia: 5 killed

Date & Time: Mar 2, 1992 at 1600 LT

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

CP-754

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Estencia - La Paz

MSN:

22570

YOM:

1945

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft was completing a cargo flight to La Paz, carrying two passengers, three crew members and a load of meat. During the takeoff roll on a wet runway, the left engine lost power. The captain decided to continue and started the rotation. Just after liftoff, the airplane banked left, causing the left wing to struck the ground. Out of control, the aircraft crashed 500 metres from the runway end, bursting into flames. All five occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

For unknown reasons, the crew decided to continue the takeoff procedure after the left engine lost power. The fact that the runway surface was wet was considered as a contributing factor as the aircraft's speed was insufficient.

Crash of a Fairchild F27J in Yacuiba: 13 killed

Date & Time: Jun 2, 1980

Type of aircraft:

Fairchild F27

Operator:

Registration:

CP-1117

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Cochabamba - Yacuiba

MSN:

118

YOM:

1965

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While approaching Yacuiba Airport, the airplane struck the slope of Mt Tapecua located few km from the airfield. All 13 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Cessna 402B near Tarija: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jul 1, 1978

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 402

Operator:

Registration:

FAB-012

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

MSN:

402B-0211

YOM:

1972

Location:

Tarija

Country:

Bolivia

Region:

South America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While cruising in marginal weather conditions, the twin engine airplane struck the slope of a mountain located in the region of Tarija. All four occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-65-DL in Yacuiba: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 4, 1964

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

CP-568

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Yacuiba – La Paz

MSN:

19024

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Just after liftoff, while in initial climb, the airplane stalled and crashed near the runway end. Two passengers were killed and 27 other occupants were injured. The aircraft was written off.

Crash of a Fairchild C-82 Packet in El Palmar

Date & Time: Aug 24, 1960

Type of aircraft:

Fairchild C-82 Packet

Operator:

Bolivian Government

Registration:

CP-665

Flight Type:

Government

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:

Crashed in unknown circumstances in El Palmar while conducting a flight on behalf of the Dirección de Aviación Civil.

Crash of a Boeing B-17G-BO Flying Fortress in San Lorenzo

Date & Time: Nov 17, 1959

Type of aircraft:

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress

Operator:

Registration:

CP-625

Flight Type:

Cargo

MSN:

10285

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances. Crew fate remains unknown.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-DL near Villamontes: 20 killed

Date & Time: Oct 15, 1958 at 1730 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

TAM-03

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Fortín Campero – Tarija

MSN:

13839

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Enroute from Fortín Campero to Tarija, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and apparently modified his route when the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located in the region of Villamontes. The wreckage was found few hours later and all 20 occupants (a crew of three and 17 civilians) were killed.

Crash of a Ford 5 in Villamontes: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 26, 1932

Type of aircraft:

Ford 5

Operator:

Registration:

Cruz del Sur

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

5-AT-113

YOM:

1932

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft was completing a cargo flight, carrying two crew members and a load of various equipment for the Army. The airplane crashed in unknown circumstances, killing both occupants.