Lloyd Aéreo Boliviano - LAB Airlines | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

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 Boeing B-17F-VE Flying Fortress in Trinidad

Date & Time: Nov 4, 1965

Type of aircraft:

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress

Operator:

Registration:

CP-686

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

6369

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 Boeing B-17G-BO Flying Fortress in La Paz

Date & Time: Feb 7, 1965

Type of aircraft:

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress

Operator:

Registration:

CP-580

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

9300

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed on landing. No casualties.

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 Douglas DC-6B on Mt Chachacomani: 39 killed

Date & Time: Mar 15, 1963 at 1355 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-6

Operator:

Registration:

CP-707

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Arica – La Paz – Cochabamba

MSN:

43547

YOM:

1951

Flight number:

LB915

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

10069

Captain / Total hours on type:

1319.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

4034

Copilot / Total hours on type:

910

Circumstances:

The airplane departed Arica on the return flight at approximately 1327 hours Bolivian time. It was to be an eight-hour, VFR flight, and the aircraft was to cruise at 17,000 feet. Eight minutes after take-off the crew advised ATC at Cochabamba of the departure time, the number of passengers on board, the aircraft's weight and the amount of fuel being carried. Between 1347 and 1348 the air traffic controller at La Paz advised that Panagra flights 701 and 393, flying at 22,000 and 21,000 feet were estimating Charaña at 1355 and Arica at 1351 respectively. Flight 915 acknowledged the message. ATC at La Paz called the flight at approximately 1400 hours, and several times thereafter, to report on the new positions of the two Panagra aircraft, which were in the Arica zone but received no reply. It was determined subsequently that the aircraft crashed into Chachacomani Peak (latitude 17°49'00'', longitude 69°50'00''W) in Peruvian territory near the Chilean border at an altitude of 14,250 feet, sometime between 1351 and 1355. The wreckage was spotted by the crew of a reconnaissance aircraft few hours later and the first rescuers arrived on scene later to confirm that all 39 occupants have been killed.

Probable cause:

A flight under visual flight rules was attempted below the minimum altitude indicated in the flight plan in weather conditions that were marginal for this type of operation and were associated with the severe turbulence which usually exists in that region (western area).

Final Report:

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

Country:

Bolivia

Region:

South America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

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:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Cochabamba – La Paz

MSN:

10510

YOM:

1945

Location:

Cochabamba

Country:

Bolivia

Region:

South America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

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.