Country
Bolivia
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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
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Camiri - Itaguazurenda
MSN:
24
YOM:
1975
Location:
Itaguazurenda
Santa Cruz
Country:
Bolivia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
18
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
19
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 Convair CV-440-12 Metropolitan in Tomonoco: 67 killed

Date & Time: Oct 27, 1975 at 0645 LT
Type of aircraft:
Convair CV-440 Metropolitan
Operator:
Registration:
TAM-44
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Tomonoco - La Paz
MSN:
328
YOM:
1956
Location:
Tomonoco
La Paz
Country:
Bolivia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
63
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
67
Circumstances:
After a night takeoff from Tomonoco Airport, the airplane encountered difficulties to gain sufficient height and struck the slope of Mt Colorado located few km from the airport. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 67 occupants were killed, among them several Army officers flying back to La Paz with family members.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the aircraft was overloaded at the time of the accident. The departure procedure for Tomonoco Airport is requesting a high climb gradient due to close mountains. The present CV-440 has been modified by the army to carry more passengers than the original certification. As it was heavily loaded, the airplane was unable to adopt a sufficient positive rate of climb after takeoff until it struck the mountain.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-1-DK in Laja

Date & Time: Jan 19, 1974
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
TAM-30
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
11920
YOM:
1943
Location:
Laja
La Paz
Country:
Bolivia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While descending to La Paz-El Alto Airport, the crew encountered technical problems with the engines and it was decided to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft belly landed in a prairie located in Laja, about 18 km west of the airport, slid for few dozen meters and came to rest. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
Engine problems.

Crash of a Douglas C-54 Skymaster in Bolivia: 24 killed

Date & Time: Jan 10, 1974 at 1630 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
TAM-52
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Santa Rosa - La Paz
Location:
Bolivia
All Bolivia
Country:
Bolivia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
21
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
24
Circumstances:
While in cruising altitude between Santa Rosa and La Paz in poor weather conditions, the airplane disappeared from radar screens. The crew was unable to send any distress call. SAR operations were initiated but were eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the 24 occupants was found. It is believed the aircraft crashed in an isolated mountainous area following a possible navigation error due to poor weather conditions.

Crash of a Convair CV-440-63 Metropolitan in Talara: 6 killed

Date & Time: Dec 21, 1973
Type of aircraft:
Convair CV-440 Metropolitan
Operator:
Registration:
TAM-47
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Panama City – La Paz – Talara
MSN:
444
YOM:
1957
Location:
Talara
Piura
Country:
Peru
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The airplane was completing a cargo flight from Panama City to Talara with an intermediate stop in La Paz, carrying a crew of three, six passengers and a load of toys. On final approach, the airplane struck tree tops and crashed few hundred meters short of runway. Both pilots and a passenger survived while six other occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-1-DL in Caranavi

Date & Time: Sep 25, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
TAM-24
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
La Paz - San Borja
MSN:
9207
YOM:
1943
Location:
Caranavi
La Paz
Country:
Bolivia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route on a cargo flight from La Paz to San Borja, the crew encountered technical problems with the left engine and was cleared to divert to Caranavi for an emergency landing. After touchdown, the airplane went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest. While both pilots escaped uninjured, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Unknown technical issues on the left engine in flight.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 in La Paz

Date & Time: May 4, 1971
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
TAM-22
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
La Paz - El Jovi
Location:
La Paz-El Alto
La Paz
Country:
Bolivia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from La Paz-El Alto Airport, the aircraft stalled and crashed in a field located 1,500 meters past the runway end. The airplane was damaged beyond repair and all three occupants were injured.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-30-CU Commando near La Paz: 12 killed

Date & Time: Feb 17, 1971
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
TAM-60
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
La Paz – San Borja
MSN:
26683
YOM:
1943
Location:
La Paz
La Paz
Country:
Bolivia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
13 minutes after its takeoff from La Paz-El Alto Airport, while climbing in poor weather conditions, the airplane crashed into Mt Cunatincuta located few km from the capital city. The aircraft was destroyed and all 12 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.
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