Crash of a Cessna 550 Citation Bravo near San Gabriel: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 13, 2026 at 1057 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CP-3243
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
La Paz – Santa Cruz
MSN:
550-1132
YOM:
2006
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane departed La Paz-El Alto at 0819LT on a positioning flight to Santa Cruz-El Trompillo Airport with two pilots on board. The last contact with ATC was recorded at 0850LT. About five minutes later, while cruising at FL390, the airplane initiated a turn to the right then completed a 360° circuit that was repeated 20 times until 1055LT. At this time, it entered an uncontrolled descent (the last radar contact was recorded at 19,000 feet) and eventually crashed in a flat attitude in a wooded area located northeast of San Gabriel. Both crew members were killed.
Crew:
Julio Cesar Sardan Villarroel, pilot,
Carlos Fernando Moyano Aguirre, pilot.
Probable cause:
A possible slow and accidental cabin depressurization which caused the pilots to suffer hypoxia and resulting in a loss of control after the airplane ran out of fuel.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130H Hercules in La Paz: 24 killed

Date & Time: Feb 27, 2026 at 1820 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
FAB-81
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Santa Cruz – La Paz
MSN:
4759
YOM:
1977
Country:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
24
Circumstances:
The four engine airplane departed Santa Cruz-Viru Viru Airport on a flight to La Paz, carrying eight crew members and a load of new banknotes. The approach to La Paz-El Alto was initiated in marginal weather conditions and after landing on runway 28, the airplane was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overran and collided with several vehicles on the Costanera Avenue. The airplane was destroyed and among its occupant, one was killed while seven others were injured. On the ground, several cars and trucks were destroyed, 23 people were killed and 37 others were injured, some seriously.

Crash of a Partenavia P.68C in Cerro San Simón

Date & Time: Aug 19, 2025 at 1145 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CP-1930
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
332
YOM:
1984
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While approaching an airstrip in Cerro San Simón, the twin engine airplane impacted the ground and crashed in a field. All five occupants were injured, two seriously. The airplane was destroyed. The flight was operated on behalf of a local mine company.

Crash of a Boeing 737-53C in La Paz

Date & Time: Nov 22, 2018 at 1013 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
OB-2041-P
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Lima – Cuzco – La Paz
MSN:
24825/1894
YOM:
1990
Flight number:
P9331
Country:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
122
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Lima on a schedule service to La Paz with an intermediate stop in Cuzco, carrying 122 passengers and a crew of five. Following an uneventful flight from Cuzco-Alejandro Velasco Astete Airport, the crew completed the approach to La Paz-El Alto Airport. After touchdown, the crew started the braking procedure when both main landing gear collapsed. The airplane slid on its belly for few dozen metres before coming to rest on runway 10. All 127 occupants evacuated safely and no one was injured. It was reported that the touchdown was considered as normal. The airplane was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Cessna 340A in Santa Cruz

Date & Time: Oct 28, 2018 at 1030 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N5224J
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Santa Cruz - Manaus
MSN:
340A-1035
YOM:
1980
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane was engaged in a humanitarian flight from Bolivia to Brazil, carrying one passenger and a pilot. Shortly after takeoff from a little private airstrip located in the suburb of Santa Cruz, the crew was supposed to land at Santa Cruz-Viru Viru International Airport before continuing to Manaus, Brazil. After takeoff, the pilot encountered engine problems (power issue) and decided to return for an emergency landing when the airplane struck trees and belly landed in a grassy area located in Barrio Lindo. Both occupants were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Cessna 207A Stationair 8 in Santa Rosa de Yacuma

Date & Time: Jul 16, 2016 at 1600 LT
Operator:
Registration:
CP-2953
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Trinidad – Santa Rosa de Yacuma
MSN:
207-0728
YOM:
1981
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
On approach to Santa Rosa de Yacuma Airport, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions and initiated a go-around as the visibility was poor due to rain falls. Few minutes later, during a second attempt to land, the aircraft passed over the runway threshold when the pilot decided to initiate a second go-around procedure. He made a left turn when he lost control of the airplane that crashed 500 metres past the runway threshold, bursting into flames. The aircraft was destroyed and all six occupants were killed.

Crash of a Swearingen SA227AC Metro III in Riberalta: 8 killed

Date & Time: Nov 3, 2013 at 1556 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CP-2754
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Trinidad - Riberalta
MSN:
AC-721B
YOM:
1989
Flight number:
AEK025
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Trinidad, the crew started the descent to Riberalta Airport in poor weather conditions with a visibility reduced to 3 km due to rain falls. After touchdown on wet runway 14, the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran, collided with obstacles and came to rest upside down, bursting into flames, some 300 metres short of runway 32 threshold. Ten people were rescued while eight passengers were killed. The aircraft was totally destroyed. The exact circumstances of the accident remains unclear.

Crash of a Swearingen SA227DC Metro 23 in Sucre

Date & Time: Aug 20, 2013 at 0847 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CP-2655
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Potosí – Sucre
MSN:
DC-819B
YOM:
1993
Flight number:
AEK228
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
11073
Captain / Total hours on type:
806.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1553
Copilot / Total hours on type:
953
Aircraft flight hours:
34860
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Potosí, the crew started the descent to Sucre-Juana Azurduy de Padilla Airport Runway 05 in good weather conditions. After touchdown, at a speed of about 50 knots, the aircraft deviated to the left then pivoted 90° left, veered off runway and rolled for about 50 metres before coming to rest in a rocky ditch. There was no fire. All 10 occupants evacuated safely and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Loss of control after landing due to the failure of the nosewheel steering system.
Final Report:

Crash of a Curtiss C-46F-1-CU Commando in Santa Cruz: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 21, 2012 at 0813 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CP-1319
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Santa Cruz - Cobija
MSN:
22428
YOM:
1945
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
12500
Copilot / Total flying hours:
3219
Aircraft flight hours:
29080
Circumstances:
The crew departed Santa Cruz-Viru Viru Airport at 0807LT on a cargo flight to Cobija-E. Beltram Airport. Shortly after takeoff from runway 16, the crew informed ATC he was returning but did not give any details about his situation. On final approach, the aircraft adopted a high-nose attitude, climbed then stalled and crashed 200 metres short of runway, bursting into flames. The passenger was seriously injured and all three crew members were killed. The aircraft was totally destroyed by a post crash fire.
Probable cause:
The cause of the accident was that the aircraft, while on short finals and cleared to land, made an unusual flight maneuver by climbing almost vertically until a wing stall and plunging violently against the terrain, bursting into flames within the security area of the runway.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft 1900C in La Paz

Date & Time: Nov 30, 2011 at 1527 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
FAB-043
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Uyuni - La Paz
MSN:
UA-3
YOM:
1983
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Uyuni-La Joya Andina Airport on a flight to La Paz, carrying four passengers and three crew members. On approach to El Alto Airport, the crew encountered an unexpected situation. The captain decided to attempt an emergency landing in an open field. Upon touchdown, the undercarriage were torn off and the aircraft slid for few dozen metres before coming to rest 6 km from the airport. All seven occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.