Country
Bolivia
code

La Paz

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.

Crash of a Cessna 402B in Chuspipata: 5 killed

Date & Time: Sep 14, 1982
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 402
Operator:
Registration:
FAB-015
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
402B-1041
YOM:
1976
Location:
Chuspipata
La Paz
Country:
Bolivia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in a mountainous area located near Chuspipata, about 45 km northeast of La Paz Airport. All five occupants were killed.

Crash of a Convair CV-440 Metropolitan in La Paz

Date & Time: May 5, 1982
Type of aircraft:
Convair CV-440 Metropolitan
Operator:
Transportes Aéreos Unidos
Registration:
CP-1725
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
469
YOM:
1958
Location:
La Paz-El Alto
La Paz
Country:
Bolivia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After liftoff from La Paz-El Alto Airport, while in initial climb, the airplane stalled and crashed past the runway end. All four occupants were injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Loss of control consecutive to a loss of power on both engines for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-5-CU Commando in La Paz

Date & Time: Oct 15, 1980
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Transportes Aéreos Bolivar - TAB
Registration:
CP-1267
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
30679
YOM:
1944
Location:
La Paz-El Alto
La Paz
Country:
Bolivia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed shortly after takeoff from La Paz-El Alto Airport for unknown reasons. Both pilots were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. The exact date of the accident remains unknown, somewhere in October 1980.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-15-CU Commando near La Paz: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 23, 1979
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
CP-777
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
33479
YOM:
1945
Location:
La Paz
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:
While approaching La Paz-El Alto Airport, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located 15 km from the airfield. The aircraft was destroyed and all three crew members were killed. For unknown reasons, the crew was completing the approach at an insufficient altitude.

Crash of a Martin 404 in Apolo: 10 killed

Date & Time: Dec 12, 1979
Type of aircraft:
Martin 404
Operator:
Registration:
CP-1440
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
14114
YOM:
1951
Location:
Apolo
La Paz
Country:
Bolivia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Apolo Airport, while climbing, the airplane stalled and crashed in flames in an open field. A passenger was seriously injured while 10 other occupants were killed.

Crash of a Beechcraft B90 King Air in La Paz: 7 killed

Date & Time: Apr 26, 1979
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft 90 King Air
Operator:
Registration:
FAB-006
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
La Paz - Santa Cruz
MSN:
LJ-413
YOM:
1969
Location:
La Paz
La Paz
Country:
Bolivia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from La Paz-El Alto Airport, while climbing, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances 14 km from the airport. All seven occupants were killed.

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 Douglas C-47-DL in La Paz

Date & Time: Nov 23, 1976
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
CP-755
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
4294
YOM:
1942
Location:
La Paz-El Alto
La Paz
Country:
Bolivia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following a wrong approach configuration, the airplane landed too far down the runway 27, about 450 meters past the runway threshold, at an excessive speed of 130 knots. Upon touchdown, the right tire burst. Out of control, the airplane veered off runway and came to rest. While all four occupants escaped uninjured, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Convair CV-440-12 Metropolitan in Tomonoco: 67 killed

Date & Time: Oct 27, 1975 at 0645 LT
Type of aircraft:
Convair CV-440 Metropolitan
Operator:
Registration:
TAM-44
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Tomonoco - La Paz
MSN:
328
YOM:
1956
Location:
Tomonoco
La Paz
Country:
Bolivia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
63
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
67
Circumstances:
After a night takeoff from Tomonoco Airport, the airplane encountered difficulties to gain sufficient height and struck the slope of Mt Colorado located few km from the airport. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 67 occupants were killed, among them several Army officers flying back to La Paz with family members.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the aircraft was overloaded at the time of the accident. The departure procedure for Tomonoco Airport is requesting a high climb gradient due to close mountains. The present CV-440 has been modified by the army to carry more passengers than the original certification. As it was heavily loaded, the airplane was unable to adopt a sufficient positive rate of climb after takeoff until it struck the mountain.
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