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Crash of an Antonov AN-32B in Tarapacá

Date & Time: Jun 11, 2017 at 1712 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HK-4833
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
La Pedrera – Tarapacá
MSN:
34 04
YOM:
1993
Country:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
40
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
8400
Captain / Total hours on type:
1475.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1560
Copilot / Total hours on type:
426
Aircraft flight hours:
3409
Aircraft flight cycles:
3182
Circumstances:
Following an unventful charter flight from La Pedrera, the crew initiated the approach to Tarapacá Airfield. Just after touchdown on runway 25, the aircraft went out of control and veered off runway to the right. While contacting soft ground, the airplane rolled for few dozen metres and became stuck in mud. All 45 occupants evacuated safely and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The following findings were identified:
- Inappropriate decision by the aircraft operator to rush the aircraft's initial route to an aerodrome unknown to the company, not appropriate to the type of aircraft and not authorised in its Operating Specifications, without at least a proper risk assessment.
- Inadequate crew decision to accept and decide to proceed to an unknown aerodrome, without due knowledge of its characteristics, without prior experience or training in aerodrome operation and without at least a risk assessment.
- A side runway excursion, from 24 metres from the threshold of runway 25, as a result of a probable unstabilised approach resulting in an off-axis landing.
Contributing factors:
- Inefficient planning and supervision of operations by the aircraft operator, by scheduling the operation to an unknown airfield.
- Failure of the company to comply with the contents of the Dispatch Manual and General Operations Manual, in relation to the procedures that must be complied with before operating new routes, new airports or special airports, in aspects such as route analysis, runway analysis, risk management and crew requirements.
- Ignorance of the Tarapacá runway by the crew.
Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing 727-23F in Leticia: 6 killed

Date & Time: Nov 18, 2006 at 2107 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HK-3667X
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Bogotá – Leticia
MSN:
19430
YOM:
1966
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Captain / Total flying hours:
8036
Copilot / Total flying hours:
6617
Aircraft flight hours:
66192
Circumstances:
The Boeing 727 departed Bogotá-El Dorado Airport on a night cargo flight to Leticia, carrying 3 passengers, 3 crew members and a load of 13,166 kilos of fish. While descending to Leticia-Alfredo Vásquez Cobo Airport, the crew was informed about the weather conditions at destination with a visibility down to 4 km with local patches of fog. On approach, the crew asked ATC to improve the runway lights intensity as the runway 21 is not equipped with approach lights. On short final, at a height of about 150 feet, the aircraft collided with a television antenna and crashed in a wooded area located 3,7 km short of runway 21, bursting into flames. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all six occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Following a flight under IFR mode, the crew decided to continue the approach by night and limited visibility under VFR mode, without meeting the minimum requirements for this type of operation. This decision led the aircraft descending at an unsafe altitude until it collided with a television antenna and crashed. The following contributing factors were identified:
- Poor approach planning,
- Poor judgment,
- Violation of IFR procedures,
- The crew's inability to circumvent the obstacle on the ground by encountering unforeseen circumstances beyond their capacity.
Final Report:

Crash of an Antonov AN-32 in Leticia

Date & Time: Aug 24, 1998 at 1530 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HK-4007X
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Leticia - Girardot
MSN:
3303
YOM:
1992
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
1210
Circumstances:
The aircraft was completing a cargo flight from Leticia to Girardot, carrying three passengers, three crew members and a load of five tons of fish. During the takeoff roll at Leticia-Alfredo Vásquez Cobo Airport runway 20, at Vr speed, the pilot-in-command started the rotation but the aircraft failed to respond. In such conditions, the captain decided to abort and initiated an emergency braking procedure. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overran and came to rest 80 metres further. All six occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the total weight of the aircraft was 532 kilos above MTOW. Also, the CofG was beyond the forward limit.

Crash of a Douglas DC-6B near Leticia: 80 killed

Date & Time: Jul 24, 1985 at 1700 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
FAC-902
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Leticia - Bogotá
MSN:
45067
YOM:
1956
Country:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
76
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
80
Circumstances:
Some aircraft operated by the Colombian Air Force were requisitioned to carry out regular schedule flights on behalf of Avianca because their pilots were striking. Few minutes after takeoff from Leticia-Alfredo Vásquez Cobo Airport, the pilot declared an emergency after the engine n°3 caught fire. While returning, fire spread to the right wing and the airplane went out of control and crashed in a jungle located 32 km north of the airport. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 80 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Failure of the n°3 engine for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-35-CU Commando in Leticia

Date & Time: Apr 30, 1973
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
HK-791
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
26805
YOM:
1944
Country:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After touchdown, a tyre burst. The airplane veered off runway and came to rest. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
Loss of control after a tyre burst upon landing.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina off La Pedrera: 12 killed

Date & Time: Nov 26, 1966 at 1424 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
FAC-621
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
La Pedrera – Leticia
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from runway 33 at La Pedrera Airport, while in initial climb, the seaplane stalled and crashed into the Rio Caquetá. A passenger was rescued while 12 other occupants were killed.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-35-CU Commando in Calderon

Date & Time: Apr 8, 1961
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HK-489E
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
26778
YOM:
1944
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
27
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on landing at Calderon. All 29 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was written off.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina off La Pedrera: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jan 31, 1955
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HK-1000E
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bogotá – Villavicencio – Mitú – La Pedrera
Country:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The aircraft was completing a cargo flight from Bogotá to La Pedrera with intermediate stop at Apiay AFB in Villavicencio and Mitú, carrying four passagers, four crew members, mail and various goods. While trying to land on the Río Caqueta near La Pedrera, the seaplane crashed into the river. All four passengers and a crew member were killed while three other occupants were killed.

Crash of a Ford 5 in Tarapacá: 16 killed

Date & Time: Aug 27, 1941 at 1520 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
644
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Tarapacá – Tres Esquinas
MSN:
5-AT-089
YOM:
1930
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
13
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
16
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from Tarapacá Airport, bound for Tres Esquinas, the three engine airplane caught fire and crashed in a dense wooded area located few km from the airport. SAR operations were quickly initiated but the burnt wreckage was found two days and a half later. All 16 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
For unknown reasons, the airplane suffered a sudden and severe in-flight fire, maybe due to the explosion of an engine.

Crash of a Ford 5 near Tarapaca: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 22, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
643
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Caucaya – Tarapaca
MSN:
5-AT-047
YOM:
1929
Country:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
While descending to Tarapaca, the crew encountered engine problems and attempted an emergency landing. The aircraft came to rest near the Rió Putumayo, on Brazilian territory, few km from the border with Colombia. A crew member was killed and 13 other occupants were rescued.
Probable cause:
Engine failure on approach.