Country
Colombia
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Meta

Crash of a Douglas DC-3A in Villavicencio: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 7, 1985 at 1255 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
HK-1340
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Villavicencio – Carurú
MSN:
11704
YOM:
1943
Location:
Villavicencio
Meta
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Villavicencio-La Vanguardia Airport, while climbing, the right engine caught fire. The aircraft lost height then struck trees and crashed few km from the airport, bursting into flames. Three occupants were killed while three others were seriously injured.
Probable cause:
It is believed the right engine failed because the total weight of the aircraft was well above the MTOW.

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A-9 Islander in Barranca de Upía

Date & Time: Apr 26, 1983
Type of aircraft:
Britten-Norman Islander
Operator:
Aviones Ejecutivos - AVIEL
Registration:
HK-2687X
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
841
YOM:
1978
Location:
Barranca de Upía
Meta
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
An engine failed in flight, forcing the pilot to reduce his altitude and to attempt an emergency landing. The airplane crash landed in an open field located near Barranca de Upía. The pilot escaped uninjured while the aircraft later exploded and was destroyed. The cargo consisted of explosives.
Probable cause:
Engine failure for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 in Villavicencio

Date & Time: Jun 25, 1981
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
FAC-1129
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Villavicencio
Meta
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Suffered an accident at Villavicencio-La Vanguardia Airport. There were no casualties and the airplane was written off.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-85-DL near Villavicencio

Date & Time: Oct 2, 1977
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Jack Lenhardt
Registration:
N98H
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Illegal (smuggling)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
20061
YOM:
1944
Location:
Villavicencio
Meta
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a drug smuggling flight when he was forced down by Colombian Air Force. The aircraft crash landed near Villavicencio. Both pilots were arrested and the airplane was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Forced down by Colombian Air Force during an illegal flight.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3A-438 in Saliente del Rio Guape: 35 killed

Date & Time: Apr 10, 1977
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
HK-556
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Uribe - Bogotá
MSN:
4958
YOM:
1942
Location:
Saliente del Rio Guape
Meta
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
31
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
35
Circumstances:
En route from Uribe to Bogotá-El Dorado Airport, while cruising by night, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located in the region of Saliente del Rio Guape. As the aircraft failed to arrive at Bogotá, SAR operations were initiated but eventually suspend few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the 35 occupants was found. The wreckage was found 35 days later on the slope of Mt Guape, at an altitude of 2,200 meters. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and all 35 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
For unknown reasons, the airplane was not following the proper track to Bogotá. Lack of visibility was considered as a contributing factor.

Crash of a Handley Page HPR-7 Dart Herald 101 in Villavicencio: 6 killed

Date & Time: Nov 2, 1973
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page HPR-7 Dart Herald
Operator:
Registration:
HK-718
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Paz de Ariporo – Tame – Arauca – Cúcuta
MSN:
150
YOM:
1961
Location:
Villavicencio
Meta
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
When landing at Arauca (AUC) after a flight from Paz de Ariporo (PZA) and Tame (TME) a loss of hydraulic fluid was noted on the left main gear hydraulic system. A split hose was changed before the aircraft left for a flight to Cúcuta. Some 5 minutes after takeoff a burning smell and smoke were noticed in the cockpit. It appeared then that the undercarriage was still extended, though the undercarriage indicators in the cockpit didn't show this. The crew elected to divert to Villavicencio and made two low runs over the field to obtain instructions from the chief of maintenance and the airline's instructor. While on final approach to runway 22 the pilot was told by the instructor on the ground to feather the no. 1 engine as a precautionary measure. After passing the threshold at low altitude, power was reapplied and the aircraft turned slowly to the left, lost altitude and crashed in flames.
Source: ASN

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina in Villavicencio: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 9, 1973 at 1500 LT
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Lineas Aéreas Interiores de Catalina
Registration:
HK-1020
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
1750
YOM:
1944
Location:
Villavicencio
Meta
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
While approaching Villavicencio-La Vanguardia Airport following a test flight, the crew encountered engine problems and attempted an emergency landing when the seaplane crashed few km from the airport. A crew member was killed while two others were injured.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3A in the Las Palomas Mountain Range: 21 killed

Date & Time: Jul 29, 1972 at 0653 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
HK-107
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Villavicencio – Paz de Ariporo – Arauca – Saravena
MSN:
11723
YOM:
1943
Flight number:
AV630
Location:
Mt Las Palomas
Meta
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
18
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
21
Circumstances:
At 0620LT, an Avianca Douglas DC-3A registered HK-107 departed Villavicencio-La Vanguardia Airport on flight AV630 to Saravena via Paz de Ariporo and Arauca with 18 passengers and a crew of three on board. Two minutes later, at 0622LT, a second Avianca Douglas DC-3A registered HK-1341 departed the same airport on a service to Las Gaviotas via Yopal, Trinidad and Orocué with 14 passengers and a crew of tree on board. While cruising by night over the Las Palomas Mountain Range, both aircraft collided and crashed in a mountainous terrain located about 75 km north of Villavicencio-La Vanguardia Airport. Both aircraft were destroyed and all 38 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the collision remains unclear.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3A in the Las Palomas Mountain Range: 17 killed

Date & Time: Jul 29, 1972 at 0653 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
HK-1341
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Villavicencio – Yopal – Trinidad – Orocué – Las Gaviotas
MSN:
11716
YOM:
1943
Location:
Mt Las Palomas
Meta
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
17
Circumstances:
At 0620LT, an Avianca Douglas DC-3A registered HK-107 departed Villavicencio-La Vanguardia Airport on flight AV630 to Saravena via Paz de Ariporo and Arauca with 18 passengers and a crew of three on board. Two minutes later, at 0622LT, a second Avianca Douglas DC-3A registered HK-1341 departed the same airport on a service to Las Gaviotas via Yopal, Trinidad and Orocué with 14 passengers and a crew of tree on board. While cruising by night over the Las Palomas Mountain Range, both aircraft collided and crashed in a mountainous terrain located about 75 km north of Villavicencio-La Vanguardia Airport. Both aircraft were destroyed and all 38 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the collision remains unclear.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-10-CU Commando near Villavicencio

Date & Time: Mar 15, 1970
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
HK-790
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
26480
YOM:
1943
Location:
Villavicencio
Meta
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in San Carlos de Guaroba, in the suburb of Villavicencio. The exact date of the mishap remains unknown (somewhere in March 1970). There were no casualties.
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