Zone
Cochabamba

Crash of a Convair CV-580 in Trinidad

Date & Time: Feb 22, 2005 at 2026 LT
Type of aircraft:
Convair CV-580
Operator:
Registration:
FAB-73
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Trinidad – Cochabamba
MSN:
170
YOM:
1954
Location:
Trinidad
Beni
Country:
Bolivia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
45
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff, while initial climb, the crew encountered engine problems and elected to make an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed in a muddy field and came to rest, broken in two. 28 people were injured while 21 others escaped uninjured.

Crash of a Swearingen SA227AC Metro III in Trinidad

Date & Time: Nov 12, 1992
Type of aircraft:
Swearingen SA227 Metro III
Operator:
Registration:
N3044J
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Trinidad - Cochabamba
MSN:
AC-466
YOM:
1981
Location:
Trinidad
Beni
Country:
Bolivia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll, the aircraft deviated to the right and eventually veered off runway. While contacting soft ground, the nose gear collapsed and the aircraft came to rest. All 16 occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

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

Date & Time: Feb 18, 1992
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Transporte Aéreos Universal
Registration:
CP-1655
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
San Ignacio de Moxos – Cochabamba
MSN:
33294
YOM:
1945
Location:
Cochabamba
Cochabamba
Country:
Bolivia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Upon landing at Cochabamba-Jorge Wilstermann Airport, the left main gear collapsed. The aircraft veered off runway and came to rest. All six occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left main gear upon landing for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Douglas EC-54U Skymaster in Cochabamba: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 13, 1984
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
CP-1090
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Cochabamba - La Paz
MSN:
36036
YOM:
1945
Location:
Cochabamba
Cochabamba
Country:
Bolivia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Cochabamba-Jorge Wilsterman Airport, while climbing, the engine n°2 failed. The crew was cleared to return for an emergency landing but the aircraft was unstable on final. Upon touchdown, the aircraft went out of control, veered off runway to the left and came to rest in a drainage ditch. A crew member was killed while two others were injured.
Probable cause:
Failure of the engine n°2 after takeoff for unknown reasons.

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:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Cochabamba - Yacuiba
MSN:
118
YOM:
1965
Location:
Yacuiba
Tarija
Country:
Bolivia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
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 Curtiss C-46D-10-CU Commando near Cochabamba: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 24, 1975
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
CP-1063
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
32959
YOM:
1944
Location:
Cochabamba
Cochabamba
Country:
Bolivia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While descending to Cochabamba-Jorge Wilsterman Airport in marginal weather conditions, the airplane struck the slope of Mt Machu Sayari (4,350 meters high) located few km from the city of Cochabamba. The wreckage was found few days later and all four crew members have been killed. At the time of the accident, the visibility was limited due to low clouds.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the crew started the descent prematurely, causing the aircraft to fly below the minimum descent altitude.

Crash of a North American B-25J Mitchell near Cochabamba: 9 killed

Date & Time: Feb 26, 1975
Type of aircraft:
North American B-25 Mitchell
Operator:
Registration:
FAB-545
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Cochabamba - Cochabamba
Location:
Cochabamba
Cochabamba
Country:
Bolivia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
While completing an exercice out from Cochabamba, the airplane struck the slope of Mt San Pedro. All nine crew members were killed.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-15-CU Commando in San Benito: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 3, 1966
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
CP-730
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Riberalta – Cochabamba
MSN:
33457
YOM:
1945
Location:
San Benito
Cochabamba
Country:
Bolivia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While cruising in poor weather conditions, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located in the region of San Benito. The wreckage was found 12 days later and all three crew members were killed. At the time of the accident, the aircraft was not on the assigned airway and was cruising at an insufficient altitude.
Probable cause:
The aircraft was not being flown at the recommended altitude when it reached the mountains to be crossed, nor at the proper crossing point. A secondary factor was the lack of navigation aids in the area.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-1-DL in Cochabamba: 4 killed

Date & Time: Aug 21, 1962
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
CP-536
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Cochabamba - Cochabamba
MSN:
20619
YOM:
1944
Location:
Cochabamba
Cochabamba
Country:
Bolivia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The aircraft was engaged in a local test flight following a 6 months maintenance period and was carrying nine technicians and three pilots. After takeoff, while in initial climb, the airplane stalled and crashed. Four occupants were killed while eight others were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Douglas DC-4-1009 near Cochabamba: 59 killed

Date & Time: Feb 5, 1960 at 0720 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-4
Operator:
Registration:
CP-609
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Cochabamba – La Paz
MSN:
10510
YOM:
1945
Location:
Cochabamba
Cochabamba
Country:
Bolivia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
55
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
59
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from Cochabamba-Jorge Wilsterman Airport, while climbing to an altitude of 9,000 feet, the captain informed ATC that an engine exploded. Shortly later, the airplane went out of control and crashed in Laguna Huanacota, about 13 km south of the airport. A young girl aged two was seriously injured while all 58 other occupants were killed. While being evacuated to the hospital, the only survivor died from her injuries.
Probable cause:
Investigations believe it is probable that the engine would have exploded due to its excessive contribution. At the time of the accident, the total weight of the aircraft was greater than the maximum allowable take-off weight, which remains a factor contributing to the engine explosion.
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