Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A-21 Islander near São Paulo: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 10, 1978
Type of aircraft:
Britten-Norman Islander
Operator:
Encal Servicio Aéreo
Registration:
PT-KRP
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
743
YOM:
1974
Location:
São Paulo
São Paulo
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in the Amoreira Mountain range, south of São Paulo. A passenger survived while both other occupants were killed.

Crash of a Boeing 707-351B in Buenos Aires

Date & Time: Aug 3, 1978 at 2258 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 707
Operator:
Registration:
CC-CCX
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
New York – Miami – Panama City – Lima – Santiago – Buenos Aires
MSN:
18584
YOM:
1963
Location:
Buenos Aires-Ezeiza-Ministro Pistarini
Buenos Aires City
Country:
Argentina
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
55
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
47740
Circumstances:
On final approach to Buenos Aires by night, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and limited visibility due to fog. The pilot-in-command failed to realize his altitude was too low when the four engine airplane struck trees located 2,5 km short of runway 11 threshold. The airplane lost height and crashed in flames in a wooded area located 300 meters to the right of the extended centerline. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire, 22 occupants were injured and 42 others were unhurt.
Probable cause:
Wrong approach configuration on part of the flying crew who continued the approach below the glide in reduced visibility. The crew failed to follow the approach checklist and to check instruments. Lack of visibility was a factor.

Crash of a Percival P.66 Pembroke in Ciénaga

Date & Time: Jul 30, 1978
Type of aircraft:
Percival P.66 Pembroke
Operator:
Registration:
N51963
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Illegal (smuggling)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
66
YOM:
1956
Location:
Ciénaga
Magdalena
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in a banana plantation near Ciéanaga while involved in an illegal flight. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off.

Crash of a Beechcraft 65-B80 Queen Air 80 in Caracas: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 17, 1978
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft 80 Queen Air
Operator:
Registration:
YV-1111P
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
La Carlota - Porlamar
MSN:
LD-425
YOM:
1969
Location:
Caracas
Caracas Federal District
Country:
Venezuela
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from La Carlota-Francisco de Miranda Airbase in Caracas, en route to Porlamar, the twin engine airplane struck the slope of a mountain located near Caracas. The aircraft was destroyed and both occupants were killed.

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:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Riohacha – Santa Marta – Barranquilla – Bogotá
Location:
Mt Kennedy
Magdalena
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
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 Rockwell Aero Commander 500 in La Paz

Date & Time: Jul 14, 1978
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Aero Commander 500
Operator:
Registration:
CP-1064
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
La Paz-El Alto
La Paz
Country:
Bolivia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to La Paz-El Alto Airport, the twin engine airplane struck the ground about one km short of runway threshold. It slid in a field and came to rest against a stone wall. All occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain in Puerto Francisco de Orellana: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jul 14, 1978
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain
Operator:
Ecuavia
Registration:
HC-BEP
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Puerto Francisco de Orellana - Quito
Location:
Puerto Francisco de Orellana
Orellana
Country:
Ecuador
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances after takeoff from Puerto Francisco de Orellana Airport, killing all seven occupants.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130H Hercules near Pichincha: 11 killed

Date & Time: Jul 12, 1978
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed C-130 Hercules
Operator:
Registration:
FAE748
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
4748
YOM:
1977
Location:
Pichincha
Guayas
Country:
Ecuador
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
En route, the four engine airplane struck the slope of a mountain located in the region of Pichincha. All 11 occupants attached to the 11th Airborne squadron were killed.

Crash of a Beechcraft D18S in Espinal: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 9, 1978
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft D18
Operator:
Lineas Aéreas Orientales (LAOS Colombia)
Registration:
HK-2114X
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
A-1011
YOM:
1954
Location:
Espinal
Tolima
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a cargo flight from Tres Esquinas Airport. In unknown circumstances, the twin engine airplane crashed in the region of Espinal. The wreckage was found in an isolated area and both occupants were killed.
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