Pichincha | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

On final approach to Quito-Mariscal Sucre Airport by night, the aircraft struck the top of a hill and crashed few km from the airfield. All 11 occupants were killed, among them General Angel Augusto Flores, Chief of the Ecuadorian Air Force, General Raul Cousin, Colonel Galo.

Crash of an Avro 748-285-2A in Quito

Date & Time: Jun 23, 1987 at 1227 LT

Type of aircraft:

Avro 748

Operator:

Registration:

HC-BAZ

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

1738

YOM:

1975

Location:

Quito-Mariscal Sucre (City)

Pichincha

Country:

Ecuador

Region:

South America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

After landing at Mariscal Sucre Airport, the crew encountered technical problems and the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran and came to rest few dozen meters further. All 38 occupants were evacuated safely and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair and later transferred to the Museum of the Ecuadorian Air Force in Quito.

Probable cause:

The accident was the consequence of the failure of the electrical system.

Crash of a Douglas DC-8-55F in Quito: 53 killed

Date & Time: Sep 18, 1984 at 1104 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-8

Operator:

Registration:

HC-BKN

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

City

Schedule:

Miami – Quito – Guayaquil

MSN:

45754

YOM:

1965

Flight number:

2A103

Location:

Quito-Mariscal Sucre (City)

Pichincha

Country:

Ecuador

Region:

South America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

60070

Aircraft flight cycles:

17003

Circumstances:

The DC-8 landed at Quito at 06:52 after a flight from Miami. Shortly after scheduled departure time of 09:00 members of the Ecuadorian Federation of Aircrews (FEDTA) requested and were granted permission to board the aircraft and discuss subjects relating to the aircrews' strike. The four Aeroservicios Ecuatorianos crew members didn't comply with the strike, after consulting AECA management. After a delay of about two hours, the n°4 engine was started. The crew then ordered the aircraft to be towed to the runway, perhaps in order to hasten the departure. The other engines were started during the towing operation. Pre-takeoff checks were not (or improperly) carried out. This caused the 0.5° horizontal stabilizer nose-up to go undetected, while 8° nose-up is required for takeoff. The DC-8 thus barely climbed after a ground run, extended to 48 meters beyond the runway end. The horizontal stabilizer struck the wooden structure of the ILS aerial, 83 meters past the runway 35 end. The aircraft then crashed into houses, 460 meters past the runway end and 35 meters to the right of the extended centreline. A total of 25 houses were demolished. All four crew members as well as 49 people on the ground were killed. At least 50 other people on the ground were injured, some of them seriously.

Probable cause:

The incorrect position of the horizontal stabilizer in relation to the aircraft's centre of gravity, which prevented the aircraft from reaching rotation and lift-off speed within the runway distance available. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Clearance of the aircraft from Quito was done incorrectly, since the MTOW permissible for the existing runway, wind and temperature conditions, the real take-off weight, the useful load distribution and the position of the aircraft's centre of gravity were not determined,
- The crew's state of mind may have been a contributing factor in the accident. It is assumed that it prevented the crew from concentrating on all aspects of the operation they were performing.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130H Hercules near Quito: 10 killed

Date & Time: Apr 29, 1982

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed C-130 Hercules

Operator:

Registration:

FAE743

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

MSN:

4743

YOM:

1977

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While descending to Quito-Mariscal Sucre Airport, the crew decided to abandon the approach and initiate a go-around. While in a holding pattern, the four engine airplane struck the slope of a mountain located 15 km from the airport. All 10 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Boeing 720-059B in Quito

Date & Time: Jan 27, 1980

Type of aircraft:

Boeing 720

Operator:

Registration:

HK-725

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

18087/249

YOM:

1961

Location:

Quito-Mariscal Sucre (City)

Pichincha

Country:

Ecuador

Region:

South America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

After landing at Quito-Mariscal Sucre Airport, the airplane was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran, lost its nose gear and came to a halt about 70 meters past the runway end. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Wrong approach configuration on part of the crew who landed at an excessive speed of 143 knots instead of the requested 123 knots according to actual flight conditions. The touchdown point was 300 meters past the runway threshold and the crew failed to activate the emergency brakes.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 in Lloa: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 29, 1968

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Quito – Salinas

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Few minutes after takeoff from Quito-Mariscal Sucre Airport, both engines failed. The crew reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft crashed in an open field and came to rest, broken in two. The wreckage was found near Lloa, some 28 km southwest of Quito Airport. While all 10 passengers were injured, both pilots were killed.
Crew:
Cpt César Egas, pilot,
Lt Galo Molina Hidalgo, pilot.

Probable cause:

Double engine failure for unknown reason.

Crash of a Fairchild F-27A near Quito: 37 killed

Date & Time: Nov 7, 1960

Type of aircraft:

Fairchild F27

Operator:

Registration:

HC-ADV

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Guayaquil – Quito

MSN:

YOM:

1958

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While approaching Quito-Mariscal Sucre Airport in marginal weather conditions, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located 16 km from the airfield. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 37 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-50-DK near Quito: 18 killed

Date & Time: Jul 11, 1960 at 1145 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

45-1109

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Humanitarian

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Bogotá – Quito

MSN:

17112/34379

YOM:

1945

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The USAF C-47 was performing a humanitarian flight from Bogotá to Quito-Mariscal Sucre Airport on behalf of the US Mission. While descending to the airport at an altitude of 13,000 feet, the crew encountered low visibility due to clouds when the airplane struck the slope of Mt Pichincha. The wreckage was found few hours later and all 18 occupants have been killed.

Probable cause:

The crew continued the approach under VFR mode in IFR conditions.

Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3m in Quito: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 2, 1958

Type of aircraft:

Junkers JU.52

Operator:

Registration:

HC-SND

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Quito – Esmeraldas

MSN:

5109

YOM:

1935

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Quito-Mariscal Sucre Airport, the crew reported engine trouble and was forced to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft stalled and crashed few km from the airfield and came to rest. Three passengers were killed while 11 other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

Failure of one or more engine after takeoff.