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Crash of a Vickers 745D Viscount near Quetame: 21 killed

Date & Time: Mar 26, 1982 at 1525 LT
Type of aircraft:
Vickers Viscount
Operator:
Registration:
HK-2382
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Villavicencio - Bogotá
MSN:
212
YOM:
1956
Flight number:
RS217
Location:
Quetame
Cundinamarca
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
15
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
21
Circumstances:
While flying at an altitude of 7,700 feet in stormy weather, the four engine airplane struck the slope of a mountain located near Quetame. The wreckage was found few hours later and all 21 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 in Villavicencio

Date & Time: Jun 25, 1981
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
FAC-1129
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Villavicencio
Meta
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Suffered an accident at Villavicencio-La Vanguardia Airport. There were no casualties and the airplane was written off.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-85-DL near Villavicencio

Date & Time: Oct 2, 1977
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Jack Lenhardt
Registration:
N98H
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Illegal (smuggling)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
20061
YOM:
1944
Location:
Villavicencio
Meta
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a drug smuggling flight when he was forced down by Colombian Air Force. The aircraft crash landed near Villavicencio. Both pilots were arrested and the airplane was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Forced down by Colombian Air Force during an illegal flight.

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

Date & Time: Oct 25, 1976 at 0720 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
HK-149
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Yopal - Villavicencio - Cúcuta
MSN:
4593
YOM:
1942
Location:
Yopal
Casanare
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
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 C-47 in the Sierra Nevada del Cocuy: 10 killed

Date & Time: Jul 26, 1975 at 1840 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
FAC-654
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Saravena – Villavicencio – Bogotá
Location:
Sierra Nevada del Cocuy
Boyacá
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
En route from Saravena to Villavicencio, the crew declared an emergency when control was lost and the airplane crashed on the slope of a mountain located in the Sierra Nevada del Cocuy. The aircraft was destroyed and all 10 occupants have been killed.

Crash of a Handley Page HPR-7 Dart Herald 101 in Villavicencio: 6 killed

Date & Time: Nov 2, 1973
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page HPR-7 Dart Herald
Operator:
Registration:
HK-718
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Paz de Ariporo – Tame – Arauca – Cúcuta
MSN:
150
YOM:
1961
Location:
Villavicencio
Meta
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
When landing at Arauca (AUC) after a flight from Paz de Ariporo (PZA) and Tame (TME) a loss of hydraulic fluid was noted on the left main gear hydraulic system. A split hose was changed before the aircraft left for a flight to Cúcuta. Some 5 minutes after takeoff a burning smell and smoke were noticed in the cockpit. It appeared then that the undercarriage was still extended, though the undercarriage indicators in the cockpit didn't show this. The crew elected to divert to Villavicencio and made two low runs over the field to obtain instructions from the chief of maintenance and the airline's instructor. While on final approach to runway 22 the pilot was told by the instructor on the ground to feather the no. 1 engine as a precautionary measure. After passing the threshold at low altitude, power was reapplied and the aircraft turned slowly to the left, lost altitude and crashed in flames.
Source: ASN

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

Date & Time: Aug 22, 1973 at 1140 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
HK-111
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Villavicencio - Yopal
MSN:
4105
YOM:
1941
Location:
Yopal
Casanare
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
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.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina in Villavicencio: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 9, 1973 at 1500 LT
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Lineas Aéreas Interiores de Catalina
Registration:
HK-1020
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
1750
YOM:
1944
Location:
Villavicencio
Meta
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
While approaching Villavicencio-La Vanguardia Airport following a test flight, the crew encountered engine problems and attempted an emergency landing when the seaplane crashed few km from the airport. A crew member was killed while two others were injured.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3A near Villapacelly: 17 killed

Date & Time: Jul 29, 1972 at 0633 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
HK-107
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Villavicencio – Yopal – Trinidad – Orocué
MSN:
11723
YOM:
1943
Flight number:
AV626
Location:
Villapacelly
Cundinamarca
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
17
Captain / Total flying hours:
5553
Captain / Total hours on type:
3109.00
Copilot / Total hours on type:
594
Aircraft flight hours:
44300
Circumstances:
At 0615LT, the airplane departed Villavicencio-La Vanguardia Airport Runway 04 on a flight (service AV626) to Orocué with intermediate stops in Yopal and Trinidad, carrying 14 passengers and 3 crew members. Shortly after 0630LT, while cruising in excellent weather conditions, the pilot of a second Avianca DC-3 registered HK-1341 that departed the same airport about five minutes later apparently tried to reach the first airplane. Doing so, both airplanes collided, entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed on Mt Las Polomas near the village of Villapacelly, about 71 km northeast of Villavicencio-La Vanguardia Airport. Both airplanes were totally destroyed and all 38 occupants were killed.
Crew:
Manuel E. Medina Herrera, pilot,
Julio Varona Matta, copilot,
Gustavo Amortegui, flight engineer.
Probable cause:
The accident was the consequence of the following factors:
- Lack of discipline on part of the pilot of HK-1341 when performing a reaching maneuver without observing the requirements established for such maneuver in the Aeronautical Regulations Manual.
- The flight crews were not in optimal psycho-physical condition to perform their duties, due to the minimal or almost nonexistent horizontal rest they enjoyed before starting their flight activities, despite having the regulatory rest hours provided by the company.
- The pilot-in-command of DC-3 HK-107, who had the right of way during the flight, had no involvement whatsoever in the collision and subsequent accidents of both aircraft, as he was complying with the regulations when having the right of way.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-3A near Villapacelly: 21 killed

Date & Time: Jul 29, 1972 at 0633 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
HK-1341
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Villavicencio – Yopal – Paz de Ariporo – Tame – Arauca – Saravena – Cúcuta
MSN:
11716
YOM:
1943
Flight number:
AV630
Location:
Villapacelly
Cundinamarca
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
18
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
21
Captain / Total flying hours:
4328
Captain / Total hours on type:
2294.00
Aircraft flight hours:
29437
Circumstances:
At 0620LT, the airplane departed Villavicencio-La Vanguardia Airport Runway 04 on a flight (service AV630) to Cúcuta with intermediate stops in Yopal, Paz de Ariporo, Tame, Arauca and Saravena. On board were 18 passengers and 3 crew members. About 10 minutes later, while cruising in excellent weather conditions, the pilot apparently tried to reach a second Avianca DC-3 registered HK-107 that departed the same airport about five minutes earlier. Doing so, both airplanes collided, entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed on Mt Las Polomas near the village of Villapacelly, about 71 km northeast of Villavicencio-La Vanguardia Airport. Both airplanes were totally destroyed and all 38 occupants were killed.
Crew:
Alvaro Gómez Molano, pilot,
Carlos A. López Ruiz, copilot,
Martin E. Correal, flight engineer.
Probable cause:
The accident was the consequence of the following factors:
- Lack of discipline on part of the pilot of HK-1341 when performing a reaching maneuver without observing the requirements established for such maneuver in the Aeronautical Regulations Manual.
- The flight crews were not in optimal psycho-physical condition to perform their duties, due to the minimal or almost nonexistent horizontal rest they enjoyed before starting their flight activities, despite having the regulatory rest hours provided by the company.
- The pilot-in-command of DC-3 HK-107, who had the right of way during the flight, had no involvement whatsoever in the collision and subsequent accidents of both aircraft, as he was complying with the regulations when having the right of way.
Final Report:
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