Cúcuta | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

While cruising at an altitude of 11,200 feet in marginal weather conditions, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located about 30 km south of Rubio, in the Judio Mountain Range. The wreckage was found few hours later and all 28 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

For unknown reasons, the airplane was not following the correct route as mentioned on the flight plan and its altitude was insufficient. Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 near Sardinata: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 3, 1975 at 0947 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

FAC-663

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Ocaña – Cúcuta

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed Ocaña at 0923LT for an ETA in Cúcuta at 0955LT. This flight was operated for the first time. About eight minutes before ETA, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located near Sardinata. All three passengers were injured while all four crew members were killed.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-50-CU Commando in Cúcuta: 4 killed

Date & Time: Oct 4, 1965 at 1105 LT

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

SEA Colombia - Servicios Especiales Aéreos Colombia

Registration:

HK-613

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Cúcuta – Arauca

MSN:

30465

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The flight was a non-scheduled domestic cargo flight. After boarding 162 crates of beer and one passenger at Cúcuta the crew requested clearance to takeoff for Arauca at 10:42. Clearance was given by the control tower for runway 20 with a south-southeast wind at 18 kt. The aircraft used more than 3/4 of the runway for takeoff and initiated a turn over the city, returning over the aerodrome to gain height. At 10:58 hours it reported departure to the southeast, climbing in visual meteorological conditions to 7500 ft and estimating Santo Domingo at 11:13. When the aircraft was at approximately 4500 to 5000 ft, flames were seen coming from the no. 2 engine. The aircraft attempted to return to Cúcuta. On its way back the starboard wing and engine were seen tearing off from the aircraft. The rest of the aircraft immediately started to roll slowly to the left and moments later struck the ground on Cerro del Espinazo. All four occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

The accident was attributed to a maintenance error consisting of inadequate service and inspection of part of, or systems of the starboard engine, giving rise to a fire in an undetermined part of the accessories section of that engine. A contributing factor was a maintenance error consisting of failure to comply with Technical Directive No. 62-10-2 (Aerocivil C-46-39).

Final Report:

Crash of a Fairchild C-82A Packet near Santo Domingo: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jun 17, 1958 at 1000 LT

Type of aircraft:

Fairchild C-82 Packet

Operator:

Lineas Aéreas del Caribe - LIDCA

Registration:

HK-930

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Arauca – Cúcuta

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane left Arauca at 0930LT on a cargo flight to Cúcuta. About thirty minutes later, while overflying the region of Santo Domingo, the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances in a wooded area. All three crew members were killed.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46-CU Commando near Capacho: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 13, 1955

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Lineas Interamericana Aérea

Registration:

HK-607

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Cúcuta – Cravo Norte

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances near Capacho while performing a cargo flight from Cúcuta to Cravo Norte. The passenger was seriously injured while all three crew members were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Bucaramanga: 12 killed

Date & Time: Nov 26, 1949

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

HK-305

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Bucaramanga – Cúcuta

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Few minutes after takeoff, while climbing to an altitude of 2,000 feet in marginal weather conditions, the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located in the north part of the Cordillera Oriental. All 12 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in La Grita

Date & Time: Feb 23, 1948

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

YV-AGU

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Caracas – Maracaibo – Cúcuta – Bogota

MSN:

4205

YOM:

1941

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On the leg from Maracaibo to Cúcuta, while starting the descent, the crew encountered technical problems with the engines and elected to make an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed and was written off. All 17 occupants were injured, nine of them seriously.

Probable cause:

Engine failure.