Crash of a Vickers 828 Viscount in Cuenca

Date & Time: Oct 8, 1982
Type of aircraft:
Vickers Viscount
Operator:
Registration:
HC-ATV
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Guayaquil – Cuenca
MSN:
458
YOM:
1962
Location:
Cuenca-Mariscal La Mar
Azuay
Country:
Ecuador
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
For unknown reasons, the four engine airplane landed long on runway 23 with an excessive speed. After touchdown, the crew started the braking procedure but the captain realized he could not stop the aircraft on the remaining distance. Thus he elected to steer the aircraft to the right of the runway. The right main gear dug into soft ground, causing the right wing to struck the ground as well as both right engines n°3 and 4. There were considerable structural damages to the right wing and right engines so the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair. There were no injuries.

Crash of a Vickers 785D Viscount near Shell: 57 killed

Date & Time: Apr 23, 1979 at 0745 LT
Type of aircraft:
Vickers Viscount
Operator:
Registration:
HC-AVP
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Quito - Cuenca
MSN:
329
YOM:
1957
Flight number:
EH011
Location:
Shell
Pastaza
Country:
Ecuador
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
52
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
57
Circumstances:
The four engine airplane departed Quito-Mariscal Sucre Airport at 0708LT on a schedule service (EH011) to Cuenca. While cruising at an altitude of 18,000 in clouds, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain and disappeared from radar screens. SAR operations were initiated but eventually abandoned few day slater as no trace of the aircraft nor the 57 occupants was found. The wreckage was located about 5 years later in a mountainous area located in the region of Shell-Mera, province of Pastaza.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain. At the time of the accident, the airplane was off course by 25 nm for undetermined reasons.

Crash of a Vickers 764D Viscount in Cuenca: 24 killed

Date & Time: Dec 29, 1977
Type of aircraft:
Vickers Viscount
Operator:
Registration:
HC-BEM
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Guayaquil - Cuenca
MSN:
183
YOM:
1956
Location:
Cuenca-Mariscal La Mar
Azuay
Country:
Ecuador
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
20
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
24
Circumstances:
The crew filed an IFR flight plan from Guayaquil to Cuenca. After passing over the city of Puna, he decided to cancel the flight plan and continued under VFR mode. While descending to Cuenca, pilots encountered low clouds and failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the four engine airplane struck the slope of a mountain located few km from the airport. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and all 24 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Following several negligences, the crew started the descent prematurely under VFR mode in clouds, causing the aircraft to continue below the minimum prescribed altitude until it struck the mountain (controlled flight into terrain).

Crash of a Vickers 764D Viscount near Cuenca: 33 killed

Date & Time: Sep 4, 1977
Type of aircraft:
Vickers Viscount
Operator:
Registration:
HC-BCL
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Guayaquil - Cuenca
MSN:
185
YOM:
1956
Location:
Cuenca-Mariscal La Mar
Azuay
Country:
Ecuador
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
29
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
33
Circumstances:
While descending to Cuenca-Mariscal Lamar Airport in poor weather conditions, the four engine airplane struck the slope of a mountain located in the Cajas Mountain Range, about 40 km north of the intended destination. The wreckage was found few hours later and all 33 occupants were killed. The accident occurred in IMC conditions while the crew was approaching Cuenca Airport under VFR mode.
Probable cause:
The crew was flying VFR mode in adverse weather conditions, resulting in a controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Vickers 785D Viscount on Mt Chimborazo: 59 killed

Date & Time: Aug 15, 1976 at 0835 LT
Type of aircraft:
Vickers Viscount
Operator:
Registration:
HC-ARS
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Quito - Cuenca
MSN:
377
YOM:
1958
Flight number:
EH232
Location:
Mt Chimborazo
Chimborazo
Country:
Ecuador
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
55
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
59
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Quito-Mariscal Sucre Airport at 0806LT on a regular schedule flight EH232 to Cuenca, carrying four crew members and 55 passengers. At 0827LT, while cruising at 18,000 feet, the crew reported over Ambato. Eight minutes later, while cruising in limited visibility, the four engine airplane struck the slope of Mt Chimborazo (6,263 metres high). As the airplane failed to arrive at destination, SAR operations were initiated but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the 59 occupants was found. The wreckage was apparently localized on 17 October 2002 and a team of 20 alpinists was able to reach the crash site on 18 February 2003. Debris of the airplane were found, confirming this was flight EH232.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Vickers 798D Viscount in Cuenca

Date & Time: Jun 3, 1970
Type of aircraft:
Vickers Viscount
Operator:
Registration:
HC-ART
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Quito – Cuenca
MSN:
288
YOM:
1958
Location:
Cuenca-Mariscal La Mar
Azuay
Country:
Ecuador
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After touchdown at Cuenca Airport, the airplane was unable to stop within the remaining distance and overran. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-10-CU Commando in Cuenca: 30 killed

Date & Time: Jul 17, 1946 at 1130 LT
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
ANDESA - Aerovias Nacionales del Ecuador SA
Registration:
HC-SCA
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Guayaquil – Cuenca
MSN:
32982
YOM:
1944
Location:
Cuenca
Azuay
Country:
Ecuador
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
26
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
30
Circumstances:
On final approach to Cuenca, the pilot decided to abandon the landing procedure and started a go around. Shortly later, while trying to gain height, the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located 1,500 meters from the airfield. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and all 30 occupants were killed. The reason why the crew decided to make a go around remains unknown.
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