Transportes Aéreos Mercantiles Ecuatorianos - TAME

Region:

Landing (descent or approach)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The engine n°2 was inoperative due to technical problems and the crew decided to takeoff on a positioning flight to Quito with only three engines. Shortly after takeoff from Lago Agrio Airport, while in initial climb, the engine n°1 caught fire and exploded. The crew lost control of the aircraft that banked left and crashed, bursting into flames. All seven occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Failure and explosion of the engine n°1 at takeoff for unknown reasons.

Crash of an Avro 748-285-2A in Quito

Date & Time: Jun 23, 1987 at 1227 LT

Type of aircraft:

Avro 748

Operator:

Registration:

HC-BAZ

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

MSN:

1738

YOM:

1975

Location:

Quito-Mariscal Sucre (City)

Pichincha

Country:

Region:

De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

After landing at Mariscal Sucre Airport, the crew encountered technical problems and the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran and came to rest few dozen meters further. All 38 occupants were evacuated safely and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair and later transferred to the Museum of the Ecuadorian Air Force in Quito.

Probable cause:

The accident was the consequence of the failure of the electrical system.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 near Loja: 14 killed

Date & Time: Nov 20, 1984

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

FAE446

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Loja - Zumba

MSN:

446

YOM:

1975

Location:

Loja

Country:

Region:

Landing (descent or approach)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Few minutes after takeoff from Loja Airport, while climbing in poor weather conditions, the twin engine aircraft struck the slope of a mountain and crashed. All 14 occupants were killed. The aircraft had a dual registration: civil HC-BCG and military FAE446.

Crash of a Boeing 737-2V2 in Cuenca: 119 killed

Date & Time: Jul 11, 1983 at 0740 LT

Type of aircraft:

Boeing 737-200

Operator:

Registration:

HC-BIG

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Quito - Cuenca

MSN:

22607

YOM:

1981

Location:

Cuenca-Mariscal La Mar

Azuay

Country:

Region:

De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

111

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

119

Circumstances:

On final approach to Cuenca-Mariscal La Mar Airport, the crew encountered limited visibility due to poor weather conditions. On final, he failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the airplane struck trees and crashed in flames near the district of Gaullum, about 2 km short of runway 05 threshold. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 119 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

For unknown reasons, the flying crew continued the approach below the glide without proper visual contact with the ground. A lack of experience was considered as a contributing factor.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 in Macara: 18 killed

Date & Time: May 22, 1981 at 1500 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

FAE457

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Quito - Macará

MSN:

457

YOM:

1975

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane was completing a flight from Quito to Macará, carrying members of the Ecuadorian government, Army Officers and journalists who were flying to the south of the country, taking part to the next official visit of the President of the Republic of Ecuador Jaime Roldós Aguilera. While descending to Macará, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with low clouds and rain showers. Too low, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain and crashed few km from Macará. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and all 18 occupants were killed. The airplane had a dual registration FAE457 and HC-BAX.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter in Iliniza

Date & Time: Sep 2, 1980

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter

Operator:

Registration:

FAE453

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

453

YOM:

1975

Location:

Mt Illiniza (24 Mayo)

Cotopaxi

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The twin engine airplane crashed in unknown circumstances on Mt Illiniza near the 24 Mayo Airstrip. All seven occupants were rescued while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. The airplane had a dual registration FAE453 and HC-BAV.

Crash of an Avro 748-246-22A near Loja: 34 killed

Date & Time: Jan 20, 1976 at 0715 LT

Type of aircraft:

Avro 748

Operator:

Registration:

FAE683

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Loja - Guayaquil

MSN:

1683

YOM:

1970

Location:

Loja

Country:

Region: