Crash of a Rockwell Sabreliner 75 in San José

Date & Time: Sep 3, 2007
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N726JR
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
San José – Cartagena
MSN:
370-4
YOM:
1971
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll from San José-Juan Santamaria Airport runway 07, one of the tyre burst. The captain decided to abandon the takeoff procedure and initiated an emergency braking manoeuvre. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overran, lost its undercarriage, hit obstacles and came to rest near the perimeter fence. All six occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a McDonnell Douglas MD-83 in Cali

Date & Time: Jan 8, 2005 at 1548 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VP-BGI
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Cartagena – Cali
MSN:
49940
YOM:
1990
Flight number:
RPB7463
Country:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
164
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
41329
Aircraft flight cycles:
18037
Circumstances:
After landing at Cali-Alfonso Bonilla Aragón Airport, the aircraft encountered difficulties to decelerate properly. It overrun the runway 19 (which is 9,842 feet long), lost its undercarriage, collided with the perimeter fence and came to rest on its belly. Six passengers were slightly injured while all other occupants escaped unhurt. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The accident was caused by a chain of errors and mistakes which began by accepting and carrying out a hasty descent that led to the omission of key points in the checklist such as the arming of the spoilers, excessive descent rate and speed and a configuration that led to faulty placement of the aircraft on the runway in abnormal conditions and 862 meters from the normal touchdown point. These conditions caused a vibration of the right main landing gear that could not be controlled by the Shimmy Damper, allowing higher loads to the strength of the undercarriage, which broke.

Crash of a Beechcraft B200 Super King Air in Ingleside

Date & Time: Dec 18, 1995 at 1730 LT
Registration:
N231RL
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Ingleside - Cartagena
MSN:
BB-868
YOM:
1981
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
2000
Circumstances:
On December 18, 1995, at 1730 central standard time, a Beech B200, N231RL, was substantially damaged, during takeoff near Ingleside, Texas. The commercial pilot and his passenger were not injured. The airplane was owned by R.A. Beeler Leasing Company, of Carrizo Springs, Texas, and operated by Western Airways Inc., of Houston, Texas. The airplane was stolen from the West Houston Airport at 1600. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. According to U.S. Customs officials, the operator's chief mechanic reported the aircraft stolen as soon as the airplane was broken into by the two occupants. A U.S. Customs airplane was vectored to intercept the stolen airplane. The owner of the airplane reported there was approximately 800 pounds of fuel aboard at the time the airplane was stolen. The airplane was intercepted as it was landing at the T.P. McCampbell Airport, near Ingleside, Texas. The Customs aircraft landed and blocked the single 4,996 foot runway. While attempting to takeoff to evade law enforcement personnel, the airplane impacted a fence, crossed a ditch, and came to rest in a swamp. The two occupants of the airplane jumped out and ran. The pilot's son was captured, but the pilot was not apprehended. The following items were found in the airplane: bolt cutters, 2 masks, loaded weapons, the pilot's wallet, and charts and maps indicating that the planned destination of the flight was near Cartagena, Colombia. The nose landing gear collapsed, the left wing sustained structural damage, and the pressure bulkhead was punctured.
Probable cause:
The pilot's improper decision, while evading law enforcement personnel during an illegal/unauthorized operation.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-9-14 in María La Baja: 51 killed

Date & Time: Jan 11, 1995 at 1938 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HK-3839X
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bogotá – Cartagena – San Andres – Panama City – Cali – Bogotá
MSN:
45742/26
YOM:
1966
Flight number:
RS256
Country:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
47
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
51
Captain / Total flying hours:
10924
Captain / Total hours on type:
4605.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
4229
Copilot / Total hours on type:
3952
Aircraft flight hours:
65084
Aircraft flight cycles:
69716
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Bogotá-El Dorado Airport at 1843LT with a delay of six hours because of technical problems with the electrical systems. At 1934LT, after being cleared to start the descent to Cartagena-Rafael Núñez Airport, the crew descended from FL190 to FL080 when radar contact was lost. Four minutes later, the pilot of a Cessna 208 operated by Aerocorales informed ARTCC about a plane descending vertically and crashing in a marshy field located near María La Baja. The wreckage was found about 40 km southeast of Cartagena Airport. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and among the debris, a nine year old girl was found alive, all 51 other occupants have been killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the loss of control occurred after the pilot-in-command suffered a loss of situational awareness. Contributing to the loss of Vertical Situational Awareness, was the failure of the altimeter Number one during the descent, the lack of light in the altimeter Number two, the ineffectiveness of the Altitude Alert due to the failure of the altimeter Number one, the lack of radar service in the area, the complacency of the command crew because of good weather conditions, flight training that may not have been authorized by the company, the failure of the ground proximity warning system (GPWS), or lack of crew reaction time to respond to this alarm.
Final Report:

Crash of an Embraer EMB-110P1 Bandeirante in Paipa: 21 killed

Date & Time: Sep 2, 1981 at 0955 LT
Operator:
Registration:
HK-2651
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Paipa - Cartagena
MSN:
110-206
YOM:
1979
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
20
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
21
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Paipa-Juan Jose Rondon Airport, the twin engine airplane encountered serious difficulties to gain height. It passed closely over trees and several houses. Following a course of 3 km, the pilot-in-command initiated a left turn when the left wingtip struck the ground, causing the airplane to crash, bursting into flames. Five occupants were rescued while 17 others were killed. Within 24 hours following the crash, four of the survivors died from their injuries. It was determined that the total weight of the aircraft was about 1 ton above MTOW at the time of the accident.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46F-1-CU Commando off Cartagena

Date & Time: Oct 26, 1973 at 1850 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HK-1383
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Barranquilla – San Andrés
MSN:
22522
YOM:
1945
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After it departed Barranquilla Airport, while cruising over the Caribbean Sea at an altitude of 10,000 feet, the left engine caught fire. The crew activated the fire extinguishing system but the was unable to feather the propeller due to a technical issue. Due increase speed and avoid any stall, the captain plunged and the passenger jettisoned the cargo. Eventually, the crew was forced to ditch the airplane into the Caribbean Sea about 34 km off Cartagena. The aircraft sank within four minutes and was lost while all three occupants were rescued.
Probable cause:
Powerplant fire and failure of the feathering system which led to critical flight conditions when the prop began windmilling. The following factors were reported:
- The aircraft was overloaded by 1,167 kilos,
- The crew was not aware of the load prior to departure.

Crash of a Lockheed L-188A Electra in Bogotá: 42 killed

Date & Time: Aug 27, 1973 at 0745 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HK-777
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Bogotá – Cartagena – Barranquilla – San Andres
MSN:
1115
YOM:
1959
Country:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
36
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
42
Circumstances:
After takeoff from runway 12 at Bogotá-El Dorado Airport, while in initial climb in limited visibility, the four engine airplane struck the slope of Mt El Cable located 11 km southeast of the airport. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 42 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the crew failed to follow the departure procedures and that initial climb was completed with an erroneous track. The lack of visibility due to fog was considered as a contributing factor.

Crash of a Grumman SA-16B off Cartagena: 7 killed

Date & Time: May 14, 1969
Operator:
Registration:
AN.1-4
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Jerez de la Frontera – Cartagena
MSN:
G-215
YOM:
1952
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
While descending to Cartagena, the seaplane went out of control and crashed into the sea about 2,5 km offshore. A crew member was rescued while seven others were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-54B-1-DO Skymaster in Cartagena: 56 killed

Date & Time: Jan 15, 1966 at 2055 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HK-730
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Cartagena – Bogotá
MSN:
18325
YOM:
1944
Flight number:
AV004
Country:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
60
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
56
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from runway 36 at Cartagena-Crespo Airport, while climbing to a height of 70 feet, the airplane descended and eventually crashed into the sea some 1,310 meters past the runway end. All four crew members and 52 passengers were killed while eight others were rescued. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
The accident was attributed to a maintenance error resulting from inadequate inspection periodic, daily, nightly and transit servicing and consisting in failure to notice the absence of a pin looseness and/or absence of a nut which joins the torsion links of the left landing gear. A possible contributing factor in the accident was pilot error, consisting in involuntary negligence in observing or wrongly interpreting the aircraft instruments during takeoff, at the time of changing over from VFR to IFR flight and/or loss of control of the aircraft by the pilot-in-command when checking the cause of a failure in the landing gear well and no.2 engine.

Crash of a Douglas B-26C Invader in Cartagena: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 20, 1963
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
FAC-2508
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
29055
YOM:
1944
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Crashed shortly after takeoff from Cartagena Airport, killing all three crew members.