Country
code

Casanare

Crash of a Douglas DC-3C in Puerto Gaitán

Date & Time: Apr 6, 2016 at 0625 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HK-2663
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Puerto Gaitán – Villavicencio
MSN:
10210
YOM:
1945
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
4058
Copilot / Total flying hours:
7934
Aircraft flight hours:
23291
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Puerto Gaitán Airport Runway 04, while on a cargo flight to Villavicencio, the left engine exploded and caught fire. As the aircraft was losing speed and height, the crew attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft crash landed in an open field located 2,6 km southwest from the airport, bursting into flames. All three crew members escaped with minor injuries and the aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left engine following the detachment of the head of a cylinder shortly after takeoff. Deficiencies in maintenance processes contributed to this situation. The crew failed to follow the emergency procedures when the left engine caught fire and exploded, reducing the power on the right engine. In such conditions, the aircraft was unable to maintain a safe altitude and the crew was forced to attempt an emergency landing.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-3-455 in Las Gaviotas

Date & Time: Jun 21, 2004 at 1700 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HK-1212
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Las Gaviotas – Puerto Carreño
MSN:
4987
YOM:
1942
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
18
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
50159
Circumstances:
Following technical problems, a DC-3 operated by Viarco diverted to Las Gaviotas Airport and was grounded. The operator send a second aircraft to Las Gaviotas to pick up the passengers. Shortly after takeoff from runway 24, while in initial climb, the right engine failed and caught fire. The aircraft stalled and crashed in a wooded area, bursting into flames. All 20 occupants were injured, six seriously. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Rupture of a crank and subsequent total loss of power and fire in the right engine during rotation of the plane, which reduced the performance of the aircraft, causing the pilot to lose control of the aircraft, resulting in the immediate collision with the ground.

Crash of a Sud-Aviation SE-210 Caravelle 10B1R in Yopal: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 31, 2001 at 1649 LT
Operator:
Registration:
HK-3932X
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bogotá – Yopal – Mitú
MSN:
201
YOM:
1966
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
3445
Captain / Total hours on type:
2320.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
320
Copilot / Total hours on type:
320
Aircraft flight hours:
24072
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Bogotá-El Dorado Airport on a cargo flight to Mitú via Yopal, carrying three passengers, three crew members and a load consisting of 14 drums of fuel. On approach to Mitú-Fabio A. León Bentley, the aircraft was too low. On short final, the left main gear struck a fence and was torn off. A hydraulic failure occurred and the captain decided to divert to Yopal Airport for an emergency landing. While descending to Yopal Airport, following a holding pattern to burn fuel, the right engine failed. The aircraft lost height and crashed 7,9 km short of runway 05. Three people were rescued while three others including one crew member were killed.
Probable cause:
Low situational alert by the pilot-in-command during the final stage of the approach to Mitú Airport and his failure to adequately plan the approach to Yopal Airport during an emergency situation. The following contributing factors were identified:
- Passive attitude of the crew, especially the captain during critical situation,
- Poor crew resources management,
- Lack of crew communication,
- Relative low copilot experience.
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 in Yopal: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 6, 1993 at 1330 LT
Operator:
Registration:
HK-2759
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Bogotá - Yopal
MSN:
771
YOM:
1981
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a cargo flight from Bogotá-El Dorado Airport to Yopal. On final approach in good weather conditions, the crew failed to realize his altitude was too low when the aircraft struck the slope of a mountain (900 metres high) located 5 km short of runway. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and both pilots were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the mountain was shrouded in light mist and the crew was approaching Yopal Airport below the minimum prescribed altitude for unknown reasons.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 in Yopal: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 4, 1991 at 0910 LT
Operator:
Registration:
HK-2889X
Survivors:
No
MSN:
606
YOM:
1979
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While approaching Yopal Airport under VFR mode in poor weather conditions, the aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located about 8 km from the airstrip. The aircraft was destroyed and all three occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, the aircraft deviated 20° to the left of the intended course. The exact cause of this deviation could not be determined, because of strong winds or because the crew elected to avoid bad weather.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain following a VFR approach in IMC conditions.

Crash of a Beechcraft 65-B80 Queen Air in Yopal

Date & Time: Apr 2, 1977
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HK-1067X
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
LD-442
YOM:
1971
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances, injuring both pilots who were completing a cargo flight.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Yopal: 36 killed

Date & Time: Oct 25, 1976 at 0720 LT
Operator:
Registration:
HK-149
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Yopal - Villavicencio - Cúcuta
MSN:
4593
YOM:
1942
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
32
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
36
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Yopal Airport, while in initial climb, the left engine failed. The airplane rolled to the left, causing the left wingtip to struck the ground. Out of control, the airplane cartwheeled and crashed in flames. All 36 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left engine after takeoff for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3-228F in Yopal: 16 killed

Date & Time: Aug 22, 1973 at 1140 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HK-111
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Villavicencio - Yopal
MSN:
4105
YOM:
1941
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
16
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Villavicencio-La Vanguardia Airport at 1113LT on a 45 minutes flight to Yopal, carrying 14 passengers and a crew of three. On approach to Yopal, the pilots encountered poor visibility with fog when the airplane crashed on the slope of a hill (480 meters high) located few km from the airport. A passenger survived while 16 other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the crew was approaching Yopal Airport under VFR mode in IMC conditions.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 in Tauramena: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jul 2, 1963
Operator:
Registration:
FAC-678
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Apiay - Tauramena
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
On approach to Tauramena, the crew encountered poor weather conditions when the airplane struck the ground and crashed few km from the destination. Three occupants were injured while six others were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-50-DL in San Luis de Palenque: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 19, 1953
Operator:
Registration:
HK-143
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Villavicencio – San Luis de Palenque
MSN:
10088
YOM:
1943
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Crashed while approaching San Luis de Palenque Airport. A crew member was killed while three other occupants were injured.