Riohacha | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

Crash of a Sud-Aviation SE-210 Caravelle VI-R near Ríohacha: 69 killed

Date & Time: Dec 21, 1980 at 1423 LT

Type of aircraft:

Sud-Aviation SE-210 Caravelle

Operator:

Registration:

HK-1810

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Bogotá – Valledupar – Barranquilla – Valledupar – Riohacha – Medellín

MSN:

165

YOM:

1963

Flight number:

TAC173

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

19094

Captain / Total hours on type:

3124.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

14750

Copilot / Total hours on type:

2109

Aircraft flight hours:

28267

Aircraft flight cycles:

27085

Circumstances:

The airplane departed Riohacha-Almirante Padilla Airport Runway 09 at 1418LT on a flight to Medellín, the last leg of a trip initiated from Bogotá at 0935LT the same day. Four minutes after takeoff, while climbing to an altitude of 3,400 feet, the airplane entered an uncontrolled descent. With a rate of descent of 6,000 feet per minute, it crashed around 30 seconds later in a wooded area located 19 km from Riohacha Airport. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 69 occupants were killed.
Crew:
Pedro Leon Acosta Carvajal, pilot,
Jorge Jimenez Gonzalez, copilot,
Jorge Silva Segura, flight engineer.

Probable cause:

The presence on board of an explosive substance caused substantial damage to the aircraft's systems, mainly the hydraulic system, to such a degree that the pilot-in-command completely lost control in flight. The exact cause of the explosion could not be determined with certainty.

Final Report:

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-35-CU Commando off Riohacha

Date & Time: Sep 20, 1980

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

HI-197

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Illegal (smuggling)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Santo Domingo - Riohacha

MSN:

26716

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While approaching Riohacha-Almirante Padilla Airport, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea few hundred meters off shore. All six occupants were rescued while the airplane was damaged beyond repair. It was reported that the flight was illegal as the airplane and its crew were involved in a contraband mission.

Crash of a Lockheed L-1049H Super Constellation in Riohacha: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 15, 1978

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation

Operator:

Skyways International

Registration:

N6924C

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

4852

YOM:

1958

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

During the takeoff roll at Riohacha-Almirante Padilla Airport, the crew inadvertently retracted the landing gear before liftoff. The airplane sank on its belly and crashed in flames. Two crew members were injured while the pilot was killed.

Probable cause:

Premature retraction of the landing gear during the takeoff roll, prior to liftoff.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 on Mt Kennedy: 8 killed

Date & Time: Jul 16, 1978 at 1655 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

FAC-680

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Riohacha – Santa Marta – Barranquilla – Bogotá

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The C-47 departed Riohacha Airport at 1615LT on a flight to Bogotá with intermediate stops in Santa Marta and Barranquilla. About five minutes before ETA, while cruising in low clouds, the airplane struck the slope of Mt Kennedy located about 22 km east of Santa Marta-Simon Bolivár Airport. The wreckage was found in an isolated area three days later and all eight occupants were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Jaime Sánchez Tocarruncho, pilot,
Lt Ramon Villanueva Rodriguez, copilot,
Cpt Jose Orlando Moscoso Valencia, navigator,
Cpt Edra Rincón TAvera, navigator,
Ezequiel Prada Rueda, mechanic,
Omar Hernán Linares Rifaldo, mechanic.
Passengers:
1st Lt Guillermo Leon Valencia Obando,
Sgt Ramiro Waldo Giraldo Ramirez.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.