Crash of a Douglas DC-6A/B in the Sierra Nevada del Cocuy: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 8, 1978 at 1825 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-6
Operator:
Registration:
HK-1707
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Port of Spain – Bogotá
MSN:
44687/535
YOM:
1954
Location:
Sierra Nevada del Cocuy
Boyacá
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
En route on a cargo flight from Port of Spain to Bogotá, while in cruising altitude, the crew declared an emergency and reported an engine failure. The captain elected to divert to Tame Airport when the aircraft apparently crashed in the El Cocuy National Park. SAR operations were initiated but eventually abandoned as no trace of the aircraft nor the three crew members was found.
Crew:
Efrain Medina, pilot
Hernan Rios, copilot,
Nicanor Miranda, flight engineer.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46F-1-CU Commando on Mt Peña de Laura: 18 killed

Date & Time: Aug 14, 1978 at 1030 LT
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
HK-1350
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Bogotá - Tame
MSN:
22557
YOM:
1945
Location:
Mt Peña de Laura
Boyacá
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
15
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
18
Captain / Total flying hours:
16312
Captain / Total hours on type:
12435.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
9053
Copilot / Total hours on type:
8806
Aircraft flight hours:
27415
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Bogotá-El Dorado Airport at 0938LT on a cargo service to Tame, carrying three crew members, 15 passengers and a load consisting of 2,300 kilos of foodstuffs. At 1007LT, the pilot informed ATC about his position over Guateque and estimated to be over Yopal at 1030LT. This was the last radio transmission. At 1030LT, while cruising at an altitude of 3,600 metres in poor weather conditions, the airplane impacted the slope of Mt Peña de Laura. The airplane disintegrated on impact and all 18 occupants were killed.
Crew:
Carlos Augusto Herrera Rodríguez, pilot,
Jorge Alberto Díaz Muñoz, copilot,
Gabriel Moreno García, flight engineer.
Probable cause:
The accident was the consequence of a controlled flight into terrain caused by the combination of the following factors:
- Decision of the crew to continue the flight under VFR mode in weather conditions below minimums for such visual flight.
- The crew got lost in IMC conditions since the pilot failed to navigate properly, causing the airplane to deviate from the route mentioned in the flight plan.
- Inadequate IFR operation due to the improper use of the aircraft for instrument flight, as it did not have the necessary navigation equipment.
- Inadequate preflight inspection, as the pilot did not inspect the navigation equipment or, aware that it was out of service, began the flight under such conditions.
- Unfavorable wind, cloud cover, lack of visibility and rain in the area of ​​the trajectory followed by the aircraft.
- Deficiencies in maintenance and inspection related to the failure to technically correct the suction to the normal value, which remained very high for more than two months, potentially affecting the readings of the gyroscopic instruments.
- Authorizing the operation of the aircraft with the VOR and ADF systems that were unserviceable.
- Lack of supervision on part of the Operator over the aircraft and crew in the areas of maintenance, dispatch, operation and exploitation, allowing the owner to carry out these activities according to his criteria, which resulted in the aircraft starting the flight with the navigation equipment out of service, in violation of the Aeronautical Regulations Manual.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-118A Liftmaster in Bogotá: 8 killed

Date & Time: Apr 29, 1978 at 1603 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-118 Liftmaster
Operator:
Registration:
HK-1705
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Bogotá - Barranquilla
MSN:
43565
YOM:
1952
Location:
Bogotá-El Dorado
Bogotá Capital District
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Bogotá-El Dorado runway 30, the four engine airplane encountered difficulties to gain height. It struck an eucalyptus then stalled and crashed in a pasture located about one km from the airfield. Four occupants were injured while eight others were killed.
Probable cause:
It is believed that one of the four engine exploded during initial climb for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-20-CU Commando in Bogotá

Date & Time: Jun 21, 1977 at 0830 LT
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Aeronorte Colombia - Aerovias del Norte
Registration:
HK-75
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Bogotá - Tame
MSN:
22275
YOM:
1945
Location:
Bogotá-El Dorado
Bogotá Capital District
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff, the left engine caught fire and failed. The airplane lost speed and height then crashed in flames near the runway end. all three occupants were evacuated while the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Left engine fire on takeoff for unknown reasons.

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 Boeing 720-047B in Mexico City

Date & Time: Aug 16, 1976
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 720
Operator:
Registration:
HK-723
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Bogotá - Mexico City
MSN:
18061/197
YOM:
1961
Location:
Mexico City-Benito Juarez
Federal District of Mexico City
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
121
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the last segment on final approach to Mexico City-Benito Juarez Airport, while passing over the runway threshold, the four engine airplane entered an area of heavy rain falls. The pilot-in-command apparently lost visual contact with the runway and decided to initiate a go-around manoeuvre when the airplane stalled, nosed down and struck the runway surface nose gear first. Upon impact, the nose gear was torn off and the airplane slid for several metres before coming to rest. All 127 occupants were evacuated safely.

Crash of a Boeing 720-022 in Barranquilla

Date & Time: Apr 22, 1976
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 720
Operator:
US Global of Florida
Registration:
N37777
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Bogotá – Barranquilla – Miami
MSN:
18044/178
YOM:
1960
Location:
Barranquilla-Ernesto Cortissoz (ex Soledad)
Atlántico
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane was completing a cargo flight from Bogotá to Miami with an intermediate stop in Barranquilla, carrying four crew members and a load of 19 tons of flowers. On approach to Barranquilla-Soledad Airport, the crew encountered poor visibility and the captain requested ATC to increase the intensity of the runway lights. Shortly later, while too low, the airplane struck obstacles and crashed in flames short of runway 04. All four occupants were slightly injured while the aircraft was destroyed. For unknown reason, the crew was approaching below the glide.

Crash of a Douglas C-54A-5-DC Skymaster near Chipaque: 13 killed

Date & Time: Jan 15, 1976 at 0700 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
HK-172
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Bogotá - La Macarena
MSN:
10280
YOM:
1944
Location:
Chipaque
Cundinamarca
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Circumstances:
While flying in clouds, the four engine airplane struck the slope of a mountain (3,540 metres high) located about 30 km east of Chipaque, in an area located in the west part of Meta. The wreckage was 800 metres below the point of impact, in a canyon. All 13 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Boeing 727-24C in Barranquilla: 4 killed

Date & Time: Sep 30, 1975
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 727-100
Operator:
Registration:
HK-1272
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Bogotá - Barranquilla - Miami
MSN:
19525
YOM:
1967
Location:
Barranquilla-Ernesto Cortissoz (ex Soledad)
Atlántico
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
On approach to Barranquilla-Soledad Airport, the crew encountered poor visibility due to foggy conditions. Unable to locate the runway in below weather minima, the captain decided to make a go-around. Few minutes later, while on a second attempt to land, the crew failed to realize his altitude was too low when the airplane struck tree tops 1,000 meters short of runway 04 threshold. The aircraft lost height and crashed in flames 300 meters short of runway. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all four occupants have been killed.
Probable cause:
The crew continued the approach below MDA after passing the decision height in below weather minimums.

Ground accident of a Douglas DC-6F in Bogotá

Date & Time: Jul 10, 1975
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-6
Operator:
Registration:
HK-756
Flight Phase:
Parking
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
43117
YOM:
1948
Location:
Bogotá-El Dorado
Bogotá Capital District
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Destroyed by fire at Bogotá-El Dorado Airport after being struck by an Aerocondor Lockheed L-188AF Electra registered HK-1976 that crashed on takeoff. The aircraft was empty at the time of the accident.
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