Country
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Santander

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-50-CU Commando in Barrancabermeja: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 21, 1973
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N10427
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Barranquilla - Pereira
MSN:
30532
YOM:
1944
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
En route from Barranquilla to Pereira on a cargo flight, the crew informed ATC about the failure of the left engine and was cleared to divert to Barrancabermeja-Yariguíes Airport for an emergency landing. On approach, while completing a last turn to the side of the dead engine, the crew lost control of the airplane that stalled and crashed in a field located 3 km from the runway 03 threshold. The aircraft was destroyed and both pilots were killed.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left engine caused by a hydraulic leak. The loss of control was caused by an aerodynamic stall consecutive to an insufficient speed while making a sharp turn to the side of the dead engine at a relative low height and with a heavily loaded aircraft.

Crash of a Douglas C-54B-DC Skymaster in Barrancabermeja: 6 killed

Date & Time: Feb 19, 1971 at 1623 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
FAC-692
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Valledupar – Barrancabermeja
MSN:
10442
YOM:
1944
Country:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
29
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
After landing on runway 21 at Barrancabermeja-Yariguíes Airport, the four engine aircraft encountered difficulties. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the airplane overran, went down an embankment and came to rest in flames 150 meters further. A crew members and five passengers were killed while 29 other occupants were wounded. The aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 near Bucaramanga: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jan 21, 1971
Operator:
Registration:
FAC-653
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Santa Marta – Bucaramanga
Country:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
While approaching Bucaramanga-Gómez Niño Airport, the airplane struck the slope of Mt La Judia located about 11 km east of the airfield. The aircraft was destroyed and all seven occupants were killed.

Crash of a Rockwell Shrike Commander 500S in Barrancabermeja: 6 killed

Date & Time: Dec 1, 1970 at 1600 LT
Registration:
HK-1143
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
Both engines failed in flight for unknown reason. The pilot reduced his altitude and elected to make an emergency landing when the airplane hit a large tree and crashed. Six occupants were killed while two others were seriously injured.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure in flight for unknown reason.

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 560A in Málaga: 6 killed

Date & Time: Nov 9, 1968
Registration:
HK-1079
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bucaramanga – Málaga
MSN:
560-292
YOM:
1956
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances while approaching Málaga Airport on a taxi flight from Bucaramanga. A passenger survived while six other occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3 in Bucaramanga: 15 killed

Date & Time: Oct 17, 1965
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HK-118
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Bogotá – Bucaramanga
MSN:
6182
YOM:
1942
Flight number:
AV508
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While approaching Bucaramanga-Gomez Niño Airport from the north, the Dakota collided with a private Piper PA-18A Super Cub registered HK-922P. Following the collision, both aircraft dove into the ground and crashed near the Las Terrazas residential area. All 15 occupants on board the DC-3 and the pilot of the PA-18 were killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the collision remains unclear.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Bucaramanga

Date & Time: Mar 11, 1965 at 0710 LT
Operator:
Registration:
HK-153
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bucaramanga – Bogotá
MSN:
4711
YOM:
1942
Flight number:
AV677
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
31
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll at Bucaramanga-Gomez Niño Airport, the airplane became uncontrollable, veered off runway and struck a ditch before coming to rest in flames. All 34 occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft was partially destroyed by fire.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL near Barrancabermeja: 24 killed

Date & Time: Dec 6, 1962 at 1640 LT
Operator:
Registration:
HK-437
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bucaramanga – Barrancabermeja
MSN:
4697
YOM:
1942
Flight number:
TX209
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
23
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
24
Captain / Total flying hours:
7000
Captain / Total hours on type:
2566.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1064
Copilot / Total hours on type:
331
Circumstances:
Flight 209 was a scheduled public transport flight from Bucaramanga to Barrancabermeja and was to return the same evening. The aircraft departed Bucaramanga at 1628 hoiurs and six minutes later the pilot reported crossing the Palonegro beacon and that the flight was proceeding normally. It was heading west at 4,500 feet and estimated its time of arrival at Barrancabermeja as 1650 hours. This was the last and only report received from the aircraft. The aircraft crashed sometime between 1640 and 1730 hours local time, in daylight. The aircraft crashed in a wooded area located 48 km east of Barrancabermeja and was destroyed. Both pilots, a stewardess and 21 passengers were killed, two others were injured.
Probable cause:
The accident was attributed to an error of judgement on the part of the pilot in trying to fly VFR in IFR conditions. The heavy rain prevented him from seeing trees with which he collided, and loss of control of the aircraft resulted.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas R4D-1 in Barrancabermeja: 19 killed

Date & Time: Aug 23, 1962 at 1557 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HK-794
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Barrancabermeja – Bucaramanga
MSN:
4551
YOM:
1942
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
29
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
19
Captain / Total flying hours:
9532
Captain / Total hours on type:
2007.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
6295
Copilot / Total hours on type:
1500
Circumstances:
The DC-3 took off from Barrancabermeja runway 03 at 15:57. After 250 m the aircraft began veering to the left of the centreline and then swerved to the right. At 490 m into the takeoff, the DC-3 left the runway, corrected direction, crossed the centreline again and traversed the left-hand safety strip. The pilot corrected to avoid a collision with the T wind indicator and the aircraft entered the parking apron. The pilot applied full power as he altered direction to align with the aircraft parallel with the main runway. The starboard wing grazed the apron surface, and the aircraft bounced several times. The pilot decided to takeoff from the apron and attempted after a run of another 258 m to lift the aircraft without the necessary speed. The wingtip struck two helicopters (one of the two being a Hiller UH-12, HK-781E) on the ground, and the tail skid and cone struck a fuel tank at the edge of the apron. The aircraft cartwheeled 180° to port and fell into a depression 30 m deep and 120 m from the northern edge of the apron.
Probable cause:
The main cause of the accident was faulty piloting in the form of poor flight technique during take-off, with overcontrol of the aircraft throughout the 1169.70 m covered. The pilot used faulty judgement in trying to take-off outside the main runway 03 in use at the time. A contributing factor was faulty dispatching of the aircraft whose centre of gravity was outside the aft limit for take-off with maximum load at Barrancabermeja Airport.
Final Report:

Crash of a Noorduyn Norseman near Barrancabermeja: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 19, 1959 at 1230 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
HK-454
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Aguas Claras – Barrancabermeja
MSN:
323
YOM:
1944
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
While approaching Barrancabermeja on a flight from Aguas Claras, the engine caught fire. The pilot attempted to make an emergency landing when the airplane hit a tree and crashed in flames. All seven passengers were injured while the pilot and owner of the company, Walter Trujillo Villegas , was killed.
Probable cause:
Engine fire in flight.