Tolima | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The crew was completing a local training flight at Mariquita Airport. On final approach, the instructor simulated an engine failure and reduced the power on the left engine when the pilot-in-command lost control of the airplane that stalled and crashed 500 meters short of runway 18 threshold. Two pilots were killed while four others were injured.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the accident was the consequence of a poor crew coordination while the instructor failed to supervise properly the pilot under training. He also failed to pay sufficient attention to the approach configuration and failed to realize that the approach speed was too low.

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo in Yavi

Date & Time: Aug 22, 1973

Type of aircraft:

Piper PA-31-310 Navajo

Operator:

Transportes Aéreos Tropicales - TAT Colombia

Registration:

HK-1591

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Barranquilla - Yavi

MSN:

31-379

YOM:

1969

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

After landing at Yavi Airport, the twin engine airplane went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest in a ditch. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-1-DL on Mt Nevado de Santa Isabel: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 3, 1971

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Compaña de Aviacion Aéreo Amazonas

Registration:

HC-ANJ

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Ferry

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Quito - Bogotá

MSN:

20719

YOM:

1944

Location:

Mt Nevado de Santa Isabel

Tolima

Country:

Colombia

Region:

South America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was on his way from Quito to Bogotá as the aircraft was under a maintenance program. While cruising at an altitude of 5,100 meters in poor weather conditions, the airplane struck the slope of Mt Nevado de Santa Isabel located about 150 km west of Bogotá. SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found. The wreckage was spotted on January 6, 1972. The accident was not survivable.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver in Planadas: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 2, 1964

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver

Operator:

Registration:

HK-948

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

1013

YOM:

1956

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While cruising at low height, the single engine aircraft was shot down by bandits. The pilot was killed and the passenger who survived was taken prisoner. Four rescuers who arrived later on the crash site were also taken as prisoner. Two of them were later killed while two others were released again ransom.

Probable cause:

Shot down.

Crash of a Douglas C-54D-10-DC Skymaster near Suárez: 5 killed

Date & Time: Nov 16, 1962 at 2212 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-54 Skymaster

Operator:

Registration:

FAC-693

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Bogotá - Bogotá

MSN:

10183

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew departed Bogotá-El Dorado Airport in the evening for a night training mission. En route, the four engine aircraft struck the slope of Mt Guayatama located near Suárez, about 100 km southwest of its departure point. The aircraft was destroyed and all five crew members were killed.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina near Natagaima: 12 killed

Date & Time: Mar 13, 1957

Type of aircraft:

Consolidated PBY Catalina

Operator:

Registration:

FAC-620

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Bogotá – Tres Esquinas

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Struck a mountain near Natagaima, Tolima, while on a flight from Bogotá to Tres Esquinas. As the airplane failed to arrive at destination, SAR operations were conducted. The wreckage was found eleven days later, on March 24. All 12 occupants were killed.

Crash of a North American B-25J Mitchell in Cajamarca: 5 killed

Date & Time: Apr 3, 1949

Type of aircraft:

North American B-25 Mitchell

Operator:

Registration:

657

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances in Cajamarca while performing a flight from Madrid AFB. All five crew members were killed.

Crash of a Beechcraft AT-7 Navigator near Roncesvalles: 8 killed

Date & Time: Jun 23, 1947 at 0912 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft AT-7 Navigator

Operator:

Registration:

507

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Cali – Bogotá

MSN:

6708

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The twin engine aircraft left Cali at 0827LT on a routine flight to Bogotá-Techo Airport. Some 45 minutes into the flight, the crew encountered icing conditions and the aircraft went out of control and crashed in a mountainous area located near the village of Roncesvalles, about 50 km southwest of Ibagué. All eight occupants were killed.