La Paz-El Alto

Convair CV-440 Metropolitan

Schedule:

Buenos Aires – La Paz – Quito

MSN:

YOM:

1970

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Captain / Total hours on type:

105.00

Copilot / Total hours on type:

105

Circumstances:

The aircraft was completing a charter flight from Buenos Aires to Quito with an intermediate stop in La Paz, carrying five passengers and two pilots. The descent to Quito-Mariscal Sucre Airport was initiated by night and good weather conditions. While descending to the altitude of 16,000 feet, the aircraft struck the slope of Mt Sincholagua (4,899 metres high) located about 45 km southeast of Quito. The wreckage was found the following morning and all seven occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the crew selected the wrong frequency, using Condorcocha VOR instead of the Monjas VOR. This caused the aircraft to follow a wrong pattern for the approach to Quito Airport. The following contributing factors were reported:
- The crew was not familiar with the region of Quito,
- The crew's experience on this type of aircraft was limited,
- Crew fatigue,
- The crew had a private conversation that was not in accordance with flight rules,
- The crew failed to proceed to appropriate controls during the descent,
- Poor approach planning.

Crash of a Convair CV-440 Metropolitan in El Triunfo

Date & Time: Nov 3, 1993

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

CP-2212

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Convair CV-440 Metropolitan

Schedule:

Santa Rosa de Yacuma - La Paz

MSN:

330

YOM:

1956

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Circumstances:

Six minutes after takeoff from Santa Rosa de Yacuma Airport, en route to La Paz, the flight engineer informed the captain that the left engine caught fire. The crew shut down the engine and feathered its propeller. The captain decided to attempt an emergency landing on an abandoned airfield located in El Triunfo, about 24 km north of Santa Rosa de Yacuma Airport. After landing, the aircraft rolled for about 100 metres when the left main gear collapsed. The aircraft veered to the left and rolled for few dozen metres before coming to rest, bursting into flames. All three crew members escaped uninjured and the fire partially destroyed the left part of the aircraft.

Probable cause:

Fire of the left engine after takeoff for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Convair CV-440 Metropolitan near Colquemarca

Date & Time: Sep 14, 1993

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

CP-2256

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Schedule:

Lima - La Paz

MSN:

447

YOM:

1957

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Circumstances:

While cruising at the altitude of 18,000 feet, the aircraft suffered a hydraulic failure. Some instruments failed and the crew elected to gain height to have a better visibility when shortly later, the right engine backfired and lost power. The captain decided to make an emergency landing but encountered local patches of fog. The aircraft eventually belly landed on a plateau and came to rest. All three crew members were rescued.

Probable cause:

Hydraulic failure for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Convair CV-440-80 Metropolitan in Mt Chacaltaya: 10 killed

Date & Time: Aug 21, 1992

Type of aircraft:

Convair CV-440 Metropolitan

Operator:

Registration:

CP-1961

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Santa Ana del Yacuma - La Paz

MSN:

405

YOM:

1957

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Circumstances:

The aircraft was completing a cargo flight from Santa Ana del Yacuma to La Paz, carrying seven passengers, three crew members and a load of meat. While descending to La Paz-El Alto Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and limited visibility when the aircraft struck the slope of Mt Chacaltaya (5,421 metres high) located 19 km north of the airport. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and all 10 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain after the crew initiated the descent prematurely.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46F-1-CU Commando in Estencia: 5 killed

Date & Time: Mar 2, 1992 at 1600 LT

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

CP-754

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Rockwell Grand Commander 690

Schedule:

Estencia - La Paz

MSN:

22570

YOM:

1945

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Circumstances:

The aircraft was completing a cargo flight to La Paz, carrying two passengers, three crew members and a load of meat. During the takeoff roll on a wet runway, the left engine lost power. The captain decided to continue and started the rotation. Just after liftoff, the airplane banked left, causing the left wing to struck the ground. Out of control, the aircraft crashed 500 metres from the runway end, bursting into flames. All five occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

For unknown reasons, the crew decided to continue the takeoff procedure after the left engine lost power. The fact that the runway surface was wet was considered as a contributing factor as the aircraft's speed was insufficient.

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 690B in La Paz

Date & Time: May 30, 1991

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

FAB-023

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Schedule:

La Paz - Tarija

MSN:

690-11562

YOM:

1979

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Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances while taking off from La Paz-El Alto Airport. All eight occupants were rescued while the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-40-DK on Mt Los Novios: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 19, 1990 at 1525 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

CP-735

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Schedule:

Santa Ana del Yacuma – La Paz

MSN:

16805/33553

YOM:

1945

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Circumstances:

The crew departed Santa Ana del Yacuma on a cargo flight to La Paz. While approaching La Paz at an altitude of 16,000 feet, the aircraft struck the slope of Mt Los Novios located about 28 km north of La Paz. SAR operations were initiated but eventually abandoned after few days as no trace of the aircraft nor the three occupants was found. The wreckage was found six years later and in November 2010, the copilot's body was found.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-75-DL in Bolivia: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jan 17, 1989

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

CP-1418

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

La Paz - Apolo

MSN:

19344

YOM:

1943

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Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances while performing a cargo flight from La paz to Apolo. As the aircraft failed to arrive at destination, SAR operations were initiated but the wreckage was never found. It is believed the aircraft crashed in a mountain range located about 70 km north of La Paz.

Crash of a Douglas C-54A-5-DC Skymaster in La Paz

Date & Time: Sep 9, 1988

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-54 Skymaster

Operator:

Registration:

CP-1653

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site: