Colombian Air Force - Fuerza Aérea Colombiana | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

While cruising at an altitude of 9,000 feet, the twin engine aircraft struck the slope of Mt Cuilato located southwest of Saravena. As the aircraft failed to arrive at destination, SAR operations were initiated but eventually suspended on 15 October 1987 as no trace of the aircraft nor the nine occupants was found. The wreckage was localized in an isolated area on 30 March 2000.

Crash of a Douglas DC-6B near Leticia: 80 killed

Date & Time: Jul 24, 1985 at 1700 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-6

Operator:

Registration:

FAC-902

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Leticia - Bogotá

MSN:

45067

YOM:

1956

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Some aircraft operated by the Colombian Air Force were requisitioned to carry out regular schedule flights on behalf of Avianca because their pilots were striking. Few minutes after takeoff from Leticia-Alfredo Vásquez Cobo Airport, the pilot declared an emergency after the engine n°3 caught fire. While returning, fire spread to the right wing and the airplane went out of control and crashed in a jungle located 32 km north of the airport. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 80 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Failure of the n°3 engine for unknown reasons.

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

Date & Time: Feb 21, 1983

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

FAC-651

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Puerto Leguizamo – Neiva – Cali – Bogotá

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En route from Puerto Leguizamo to Neiva, the twin engine airplane struck the slope of Mt El Paramillo located near Solento. All four crew members were killed.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130B Hercules in the Atlantic Ocean: 5 killed

Date & Time: Oct 16, 1982 at 1430 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed C-130 Hercules

Operator:

Registration:

FAC-1003

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Madrid - Lajes - Hamilton - Bogotá

MSN:

3572

YOM:

1960

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The four engine airplane was completing a flight from Madrid to Bogotá with intermediate stops in Lajes (Azores Islands) and Hamilton, Bermuda. En route from Lajes to Hamilton, the navigation system failed and the crew became lost and disoriented. While cruising in strong head winds (up to 55 knots), the aircraft ran out of fuel and the crew was forced to ditch the aircraft about 330 km east of Cape May, New Jersey. The airplane remained afloat for about 56 hours before it sank and was lost. Eight occupants were rescued and evacuated while five others were killed.

Probable cause:

Failure of the navigation system in flight for unknown reasons. The crew got lost and disoriented and a forced landing was necessary after the airplane ran out of fuel due to an excessive fuel consumption caused by strong head winds (up to 55 knots)

Crash of an IAI Arava 201 in Puerto Rondón

Date & Time: Jun 2, 1982 at 0955 LT

Type of aircraft:

IAI Arava 201

Operator:

Registration:

FAC-951

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Puerto Rondón – Yopal

MSN:

YOM:

1980

Flight number:

573

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Crashed while taking off from Puerto Rondón Airport for unknown reasons. Sixteen occupants were injured while six other escaped uninjured.

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

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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.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver near Rio Aguarico

Date & Time: Nov 5, 1977 at 1535 LT

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver

Operator:

Registration:

FAC-118

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Schedule:

Tres Esquinas - Puerto Leguizamo

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The pilot was forced to attempt an emergency landing near the Rio Aguarico while completing a flight from Tres Esquinas to Puerto Leguizamo, apparently after being lost. The wreckage was spotted three days later about 20 km from the Colombia - Ecuador border and all four occupants were evacuated.

Crash of a Beechcraft AT-7 Navigator near Tena

Date & Time: Jun 25, 1975

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft AT-7 Navigator

Operator:

Registration:

505

Flight Phase:

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Schedule:

Tres Esquinas – Puerto Leguízamo

MSN:

6706

YOM:

1944

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The crew was supposed to fly from Tres Esquinas to Puerto Leguízamo but as the flight was illegal, they departed the Colombian Airspace for Ecuador. En route, an unexpected situation forced the crew to attempt an emergency landing by the Rio Pusuno, east of the city of Tena. All three occupants escaped and were arrested while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. A load of cocaine was found on board.