Country
code

Cotopaxi

Crash of a Boeing 737-291 near Toacaso: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 30, 2008 at 2103 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
YV102T
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Caracas – Latacunga
MSN:
21545/525
YOM:
1978
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
9018
Captain / Total hours on type:
5915.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
3000
Copilot / Total hours on type:
989
Aircraft flight hours:
60117
Aircraft flight cycles:
52091
Circumstances:
The aircraft was parked at Caracas Airport for a while and had just been sold to an Ecuadorian operator. A crew of three departed Caracas-Maiquetía-Simón Bolívar Airport in the evening on a delivery flight to Latacunga, Ecuador. After being cleared to descend to FL180, FL150 then FL130, the crew was flying over a mountainous area when the GPWS alarm sounded. The crew apparently elected to gain height but the alarm sounded for 22 seconds when the aircraft collided with the Iliniza Volcano. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all three occupants were killed. The wreckage was found the following day at an altitude of 3,992 metres.
Probable cause:
Non-compliance by the crew of the technical procedures, configuration, speed and bank angle of the aircraft required for the completion of the initial turn of the Instrument Approach Procedure n°4 published in the AIP Ecuador, to Latacunga Airport, a failure that placed the aircraft outside of the protected area (published pattern), leading to high elevation mountainous terrain.
Contributing factors:
- Ignorance of the crew of the area which was under the approach path.
- Lack of documentation and procedures of the airline that govern the conduct of flights to non-scheduled and special airports.

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

Date & Time: Sep 2, 1980
Operator:
Registration:
FAE453
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
MSN:
453
YOM:
1975
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
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 a Douglas C-47A-80-DL on Mt Illiniza: 32 killed

Date & Time: Apr 7, 1958 at 0900 LT
Operator:
Registration:
HC-ACL
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Guayaquil – Quito
MSN:
19779
YOM:
1944
Flight number:
AR222
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
29
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
32
Captain / Total flying hours:
7402
Circumstances:
Flight 222 left Guayaquil at 0806 hours on a scheduled non-stop flight to Quito. The aircraft carried 32 persons, including 3 crew members and an infant. It was cleared to climb IFR on the Guayaquil-Esmeraldas track on a heading of 358°, then to continue in visual contact to Quito, after cancellation of the IFR flight. At 0819 the pilot contacted ATC and gave his estimated arrival over Manta radio beacon at 0841. One minute later the pilot reported at 4,000 feet, maintaining this altitude. At 0830 clearance was requested for a further IFR climb and the aircraft was told to wait. At 0836 clearance to climb was again requested and at 0840 clearance was given to climb IFR to 5,000 feet on the Guayaquil-Esmeraldas track. The pilot reported at 0841 as being over Manta beacon at 5,000 feet and estimated arrival at Quito at 0916. Clearance was granted for a climb to above the clouds on the same track. This was the last contact with the aircraft which, presumably, continued to fly in cloud without breaking through on top until it crashed at an altitude of 2,300 metres ( 7,500 feet) in the western mountains of the Chugchilán Range, killing all occupants.
Probable cause:
The probable cause of the accident is that the pilot did not follow the 358° Guayaquii-Esmeraldas track, authorized for instrument flight, until clear of cloud, but probably assumed a heading of 250° as soon as he left Guayaquil, in order to fly the most direct route between Guayaquil and Quito. In so doing while on instruments, he deviated from the Guayaquil-Esmeraldas track at too low an altitude to clear the Chugchilán Range before him with an adequate safety margin.
Final Report:

Crash of an Amiot 122 BP3 near Angamarca

Date & Time: Nov 4, 1931
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
K-622
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane named 'Duque de Caxias' was engaged in a tour over South America with three crew members on board. While flying at an altitude of 3,000 metres over Ecuador, the airplane impacted the slope of a mountain and crashed near Angamarca. All three occupants were rescued.
Crew:
Cpt Archimedes Cordeiro,
Lt Godofredo Vidal,
1st Lt Orsini de Araujo.