Country
Bolivia
code

La Paz

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 690B in La Paz

Date & Time: May 30, 1991
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Grand Commander 690
Operator:
Registration:
FAB-023
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
La Paz - Tarija
MSN:
690-11562
YOM:
1979
Location:
La Paz-El Alto
La Paz
Country:
Bolivia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances while taking off from La Paz-El Alto Airport. All eight occupants were rescued while the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-40-DK on Mt Los Novios: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 19, 1990 at 1525 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
CP-735
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Santa Ana del Yacuma – La Paz
MSN:
16805/33553
YOM:
1945
Location:
Mt Los Novios
La Paz
Country:
Bolivia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew departed Santa Ana del Yacuma on a cargo flight to La Paz. While approaching La Paz at an altitude of 16,000 feet, the aircraft struck the slope of Mt Los Novios located about 28 km north of La Paz. SAR operations were initiated but eventually abandoned after few days as no trace of the aircraft nor the three occupants was found. The wreckage was found six years later and in November 2010, the copilot's body was found.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Douglas C-54A-5-DC Skymaster in La Paz

Date & Time: Sep 9, 1988
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
CP-1653
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
10285
YOM:
1944
Location:
La Paz-El Alto
La Paz
Country:
Bolivia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Just after liftoff, the crew raised the landing gear when technical problems occurred on the engine. The captain decided to land back but the airplane landed on its belly and came to rest. All three occupants were uninjured.
Probable cause:
Engine problems for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-55-CK Commando on Mt Colorado: 9 killed

Date & Time: Jan 18, 1988
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Empresa Transportes Aéreos - ETA
Registration:
CP-1244
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
246
YOM:
1945
Location:
Mt Colorado
La Paz
Country:
Bolivia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
While cruising in poor weather conditions, the aircraft struck the slope of Mt Colorado located about 100 km northwest of La Paz. All nine occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas DC-6BF in La Paz

Date & Time: May 8, 1987
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-6
Operator:
Registration:
CP-1650
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
45505
YOM:
1958
Location:
La Paz-El Alto
La Paz
Country:
Bolivia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Upon landing at La Paz-El Alto Airport, one of the main landing gear collapsed. The aircraft went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest upside down, broken in three and bursting into flames. All three crew members were injured.

Crash of a Martin 404 in La Paz

Date & Time: Aug 19, 1985
Type of aircraft:
Martin 404
Operator:
Compañia Aérea Nacional - CAN
Registration:
CP-1704
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
14172
YOM:
1952
Location:
La Paz-El Alto
La Paz
Country:
Bolivia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed while taking off from La Paz-El Alto Airport after an engine failed at rotation. The aircraft was destroyed and all three crew members were injured.
Probable cause:
Engine failure for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Boeing 727-225 on Mt Nevado Illimani: 29 killed

Date & Time: Jan 1, 1985 at 2030 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 727-200
Operator:
Registration:
N819EA
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Asunción - La Paz
MSN:
22556
YOM:
1982
Flight number:
EA980
Location:
Mt Nevado Illimani
La Paz
Country:
Bolivia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
19
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
29
Circumstances:
After crossing Dakon intersection about 55 NM southeast of La Paz, the crew was cleared to descend from FL250 to FL180. The crew deviated from the prescribed route apparently to avoid bad weather when, at an altitude of 19,600 feet, the aircraft struck the slope of Mt Nevado Illimani (6,400 meters high) located 43 km southeast from runway 28. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 29 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain after the crew failed to realize his altitude and path were incorrect while cruising in limited visibility due to the night and clouds up to 9,000 meters.

Crash of a Convair CV-440-12 Metropolitan in La Paz

Date & Time: Oct 22, 1984
Type of aircraft:
Convair CV-440 Metropolitan
Operator:
Registration:
TAM-46
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
373
YOM:
1956
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 crew was forced to make an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed in a field short of runway threshold and came to rest. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Fairchild F27M on Mt Pilón: 23 killed

Date & Time: Mar 16, 1984
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild F27
Operator:
Registration:
CP-862
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Trinidad - San Borja
MSN:
127
YOM:
1968
Location:
Mt Pilón
La Paz
Country:
Bolivia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
20
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
23
Circumstances:
The crew started the descent to San Borja-Capitán Germán Quiroga Guardia Airport in limited visibility when, at an altitude of 3,000 meters, the aircraft struck the slope of Mt Pilón located about 80 km southwest of San Borja Airport. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 23 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
For unknown reasons, the crew started the descent prematurely and the accident was the result of a controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46R Commando near La Paz

Date & Time: Oct 28, 1983
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Transportes Aéreos Bolivar - TAB
Registration:
CP-916
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
El Salvador - La Paz
MSN:
30394
YOM:
1944
Location:
La Paz-El Alto
La Paz
Country:
Bolivia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft was completing a cargo flight from El Salvador to La Paz, carrying five people and a load of 5 tons of meat. While descending to La Paz-El Alto Airport at an altitude of 17,000 feet, the left engine failed. The crew was unable to feather the propeller and decided to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed in a rocky area located 9 km east from El Alto Airport. Upon landing, the aircraft lost its undercarriage and engines and came to rest. All five occupants escaped with minor injuries while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left engine in flight for unknown reasons.
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