La Paz-El Alto | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The aircraft was on a scheduled domestic flight from Caranavi Airport to La Paz via Tipuani. It arrived at Tipuani at 0913 hours Bolivian time, carrying a crew of three, a supernumerary crew member and a passenger for La Paz. At Tipuani, eleven adult passengers and a baby boarded the aircraft. Departure from Tipuani was at 0934:36 hours and the estimated time of arrival at La Paz was 1010 hours. The last communication with Tipuani control was made at 1002 hours when it requested permission to change to the frequency of the La Paz aerodrome control zone. When the aircraft did not enter the control zone within the normal five-minute time, an emergency was declared at 1022 hours, and at 1048 hours it was learnt from the Milluni broadcasting station that the aircraft had been seen exploding in the air and falling to earth near the cemetery of that mining area. At 1121 hours the disaster was confirmed by another aircraft, CP-621, which was flying over the area. The site of the accident was 16° 21' 00" S and 68° 10' 00" W, at an elevation estimated between 14,000 and 14,500 ft. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 17 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

A violent explosion of criminal origin inside and at the rear of the aircraft during flight, which caused the tail unit to be torn off. It was later determined that one of the passenger signed three life-insurance with three different companies in case of plane crash only.

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-25-DK in Tipuani: 4 killed

Date & Time: Aug 22, 1964

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Servicios Aéreos Cochabamba

Registration:

CP-680

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

La Paz-Tipuani

MSN:

13371

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On approach to Tipuani, the crew encountered marginal weather conditions. In limited visibility, the aircraft descended to low and struck the north slope of Mt Huayna located few km from the airport. All four occupants were killed. The flight had been delayed because of bad weather over the Cordillera mountains and over the destination Tipuani.

Probable cause:

The flight was conducted in IMC conditions at an altitude unsafe for operations of that nature through the Huayna Pass."

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas SC-47D in La Paz

Date & Time: Jun 6, 1964 at 1117 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

CP-729

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

15798/32546

YOM:

1945

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed on takeoff for unknown reasons. No injuries.

Crash of a Consolidated C-87 Liberator Express in La Paz

Date & Time: Feb 8, 1964

Type of aircraft:

Consolidated C-87 Liberator Express

Operator:

Boliviana de Aviación (1960)

Registration:

CP-575

Flight Type:

Cargo

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Suffered an accident at La Paz-El Alto Airport.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-65-DL in Yacuiba: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 4, 1964

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

CP-568

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Yacuiba – La Paz

MSN:

19024

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Just after liftoff, while in initial climb, the airplane stalled and crashed near the runway end. Two passengers were killed and 27 other occupants were injured. The aircraft was written off.

Crash of a Boeing B-17G-DL Flying Fortress in La Paz

Date & Time: Dec 18, 1963

Type of aircraft:

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress

Operator:

Servicios Aéreos Cochabamba

Registration:

CP-694

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

8733

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Suffered an accident at La Paz-El Alto Airport. Occupant's fate unknown.

Crash of a Douglas DC-6B on Mt Chachacomani: 39 killed

Date & Time: Mar 15, 1963 at 1355 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-6

Operator:

Registration:

CP-707

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Arica – La Paz – Cochabamba

MSN:

43547

YOM:

1951

Flight number:

LB915

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

10069

Captain / Total hours on type:

1319.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

4034

Copilot / Total hours on type:

910

Circumstances:

The airplane departed Arica on the return flight at approximately 1327 hours Bolivian time. It was to be an eight-hour, VFR flight, and the aircraft was to cruise at 17,000 feet. Eight minutes after take-off the crew advised ATC at Cochabamba of the departure time, the number of passengers on board, the aircraft's weight and the amount of fuel being carried. Between 1347 and 1348 the air traffic controller at La Paz advised that Panagra flights 701 and 393, flying at 22,000 and 21,000 feet were estimating Charaña at 1355 and Arica at 1351 respectively. Flight 915 acknowledged the message. ATC at La Paz called the flight at approximately 1400 hours, and several times thereafter, to report on the new positions of the two Panagra aircraft, which were in the Arica zone but received no reply. It was determined subsequently that the aircraft crashed into Chachacomani Peak (latitude 17°49'00'', longitude 69°50'00''W) in Peruvian territory near the Chilean border at an altitude of 14,250 feet, sometime between 1351 and 1355. The wreckage was spotted by the crew of a reconnaissance aircraft few hours later and the first rescuers arrived on scene later to confirm that all 39 occupants have been killed.

Probable cause:

A flight under visual flight rules was attempted below the minimum altitude indicated in the flight plan in weather conditions that were marginal for this type of operation and were associated with the severe turbulence which usually exists in that region (western area).

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-7B in La Paz

Date & Time: Oct 29, 1962 at 1508 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-7

Operator:

Registration:

N51702

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

La Paz – Miami

MSN:

44702

YOM:

1955

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The four engine aircraft suffered an accident while taking off from La Paz-El Alto Airport, en route to Miami-Intl. The aircraft was written off while all 42 occupants were evacuated safely.