Crash of a Douglas DC-9-15F near Mitú: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 18, 2003 at 1710 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HK-4246X
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Yopal – Mitú
MSN:
47062
YOM:
1968
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
13768
Captain / Total hours on type:
8054.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
2300
Copilot / Total hours on type:
601
Aircraft flight hours:
56703
Circumstances:
While cruising at an altitude of 25,000 feet on a cargo flight from Yopal to Mitú, the crew was cleared to descend to 7,000 feet for an approach to runway 01 at Mitú-Fabio Alberto León Bentley Airport. Few minutes later, while descending at an altitude of 23,300 feet, the aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in a mountainous and isolated area located about 135 km northwest of Mitú Airport. The wreckage was found 10 days later, on December 28, at coordinates N 002° 19' 15'' W 070° 47' 13''. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all three crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
At the time of the accident, weather conditions were good, the crew was fit for flying and the flight conditions were considered as normal. It was determined that the crew noted two consecutives loud 'bang' before control was lost, and it is believed that the aircraft suffered a structural failure of undetermined origin at the altitude of 23,300 feet.
Final Report:

Crash of a Sud-Aviation SE-210 Caravelle 10B1R in Yopal: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 31, 2001 at 1649 LT
Operator:
Registration:
HK-3932X
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bogotá – Yopal – Mitú
MSN:
201
YOM:
1966
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
3445
Captain / Total hours on type:
2320.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
320
Copilot / Total hours on type:
320
Aircraft flight hours:
24072
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Bogotá-El Dorado Airport on a cargo flight to Mitú via Yopal, carrying three passengers, three crew members and a load consisting of 14 drums of fuel. On approach to Mitú-Fabio A. León Bentley, the aircraft was too low. On short final, the left main gear struck a fence and was torn off. A hydraulic failure occurred and the captain decided to divert to Yopal Airport for an emergency landing. While descending to Yopal Airport, following a holding pattern to burn fuel, the right engine failed. The aircraft lost height and crashed 7,9 km short of runway 05. Three people were rescued while three others including one crew member were killed.
Probable cause:
Low situational alert by the pilot-in-command during the final stage of the approach to Mitú Airport and his failure to adequately plan the approach to Yopal Airport during an emergency situation. The following contributing factors were identified:
- Passive attitude of the crew, especially the captain during critical situation,
- Poor crew resources management,
- Lack of crew communication,
- Relative low copilot experience.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-3C near Tame: 8 killed

Date & Time: Mar 18, 1999 at 1630 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HK-337
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Cúcuta – Yopal
MSN:
11831
YOM:
1943
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Captain / Total flying hours:
7838
Captain / Total hours on type:
7623.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1146
Copilot / Total hours on type:
940
Aircraft flight hours:
29475
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Cúcuta-Camilo Daza Airport at 1533LT on a charter flight to Yopal, carrying five passengers, three crew members and a load of 2,500 kilos of various goods. About an hour into the flight, while cruising over the El Cocuy National Park, the aircraft encountered unfavorable currents, lost height and crashed in an isolated and mountainous area located about 45 km west of Tame. The wreckage was found on 12 April 1999 and all eight occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Possible loss of control of the aircraft due to the presence of strong air currents or windshear, accompanied by extreme turbulences that caused the aircraft to lose height and struck the ground. Inadequate planning of the en route flight, overflying the mountain range apparently with the purpose of performing the operation in less time.
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 in Yopal: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 6, 1993 at 1330 LT
Operator:
Registration:
HK-2759
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Bogotá - Yopal
MSN:
771
YOM:
1981
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a cargo flight from Bogotá-El Dorado Airport to Yopal. On final approach in good weather conditions, the crew failed to realize his altitude was too low when the aircraft struck the slope of a mountain (900 metres high) located 5 km short of runway. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and both pilots were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the mountain was shrouded in light mist and the crew was approaching Yopal Airport below the minimum prescribed altitude for unknown reasons.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 in Yopal: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 4, 1991 at 0910 LT
Operator:
Registration:
HK-2889X
Survivors:
No
MSN:
606
YOM:
1979
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While approaching Yopal Airport under VFR mode in poor weather conditions, the aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located about 8 km from the airstrip. The aircraft was destroyed and all three occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, the aircraft deviated 20° to the left of the intended course. The exact cause of this deviation could not be determined, because of strong winds or because the crew elected to avoid bad weather.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain following a VFR approach in IMC conditions.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 near Tame: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jun 11, 1989 at 1015 LT
Operator:
Registration:
HK-2486
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Yopal - Tame
MSN:
676
YOM:
1980
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
20
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
While descending to Tame-Gustavo Vargas Santos Airport in IMC conditions, the crew failed to realize his altitude was too low when the aircraft struck a mountain located few km from Tame. Six passengers were killed while 16 other occupants were injured.

Crash of an IAI Arava 201 in Puerto Rondón

Date & Time: Jun 2, 1982 at 0955 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
FAC-951
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Puerto Rondón – Yopal
MSN:
65
YOM:
1980
Flight number:
573
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
19
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed while taking off from Puerto Rondón Airport for unknown reasons. Sixteen occupants were injured while six other escaped uninjured.

Crash of a Beechcraft 65-B80 Queen Air in Yopal

Date & Time: Apr 2, 1977
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HK-1067X
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
LD-442
YOM:
1971
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances, injuring both pilots who were completing a cargo flight.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Yopal: 36 killed

Date & Time: Oct 25, 1976 at 0720 LT
Operator:
Registration:
HK-149
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Yopal - Villavicencio - Cúcuta
MSN:
4593
YOM:
1942
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
32
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
36
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Yopal Airport, while in initial climb, the left engine failed. The airplane rolled to the left, causing the left wingtip to struck the ground. Out of control, the airplane cartwheeled and crashed in flames. All 36 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left engine after takeoff for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3-228F in Yopal: 16 killed

Date & Time: Aug 22, 1973 at 1140 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HK-111
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Villavicencio - Yopal
MSN:
4105
YOM:
1941
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
16
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Villavicencio-La Vanguardia Airport at 1113LT on a 45 minutes flight to Yopal, carrying 14 passengers and a crew of three. On approach to Yopal, the pilots encountered poor visibility with fog when the airplane crashed on the slope of a hill (480 meters high) located few km from the airport. A passenger survived while 16 other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the crew was approaching Yopal Airport under VFR mode in IMC conditions.