A Bogota-bound Viva Colombia flight had to return and make an emergency landing at Matecana International Airport in Pereira, Western Colombia, on September 14.
The decision for emergency landing was made after a bird hit one of the turbines of the passenger plane during take-off.
The plane landed safely and none of 147 passengers aboard was hurt.
A small commercial plane, registered as HK-4755 PA 34 Navajo, crashed 10 kilometers from the urban centre of Puerto Santander in the Amazon jungle, Colombia, after 3:00 p.m. on September 6.
The incident happened after the aircraft took off from Araracuara Airport, Southern Colombia, and lost communication with the air traffic control while flying over Florencia, Caqueta.
The plane was carrying 10 people, including 8 passengers and 2 crew members, at the time of accident; all of them were killed. Gustavo Ortega, Risk Management coordinator of Colombia’s southern department of Caqueta said, “The 10 people died on impact.”
A statement released by the Colombian Civil Aviation Authority said, “The airplane was found, broken apart and burned, 10 km (6 miles) from populated areas in the municipality of Puerto Santander, Amazonas department.”
The accident is under investigation
On JAN 9 2014, a Sociedad Aeronáutica de Santander (SASA) Bell 206L-3 LongRanger
# HK-4462 en route from Puerto Berrío to Anori was north of Anori, Colombia when it suffered controlled flight into terrain, striking a mountain. No one aboard survived the impact. Three soldiers and two civilians died on the 9th when the helicopter went missing.
The Seventh Division of the National Army had made a public statement that the aircraft, affiliated with the Aeronautical Society of Santander was “transporting a priest and military personnel assigned to the Fourteenth Brigade”.
The helicopter crew failed to check in on Thursday afternoon and was located on Friday in rural Anori. Fatalities were two soldiers, one police, one military priest and the pilot.
Director of the Department of Care andPrevention of Disasters César Hernández confirmed the fatalities.
Five Americans and one Panamanian were aboard. The crash occurred in an area where the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia guerrillas and drug-trafficking gangs are in conflict, in a sector of Acandi Township, on the border between Colombia and Panama in a remote, jungle region of northern Colombia. Three American contractors and a Panamanian National Guardsman, Lt. Lloyd Nunez, were killed. Two surviving Americans were severely injured. The surveillance is part of the Salas Becker agreement between Panama and the US, which shares Panamanian drug patrol surveillance.
Reports say that the vehicle lost radio contact with the U.S.-sponsored multinational task force in Key West that runs the operation. The plane was equipped with surveillance instrumentation.
The two wounded were transferred to Carepa in Antioquia and will be moved to the Military Hospital of Bogota at St Vincent hospital de Paul or the Hospital of Pablo Tobon Uribe.
A Urdinarrain Air Club Lehtovaara PIK-16C Vasama (this is a glider; I had to look it up. The crash is bad enough you can’t really tell.)
The glider was climbing while being towed at Urdinarrain Airfield, Prov. de Entre Ríos.
The glider crashed, killing the pilot.
Ricardo Alfredo Cabrera was aboard the training glider. Apparently he was being towed, made a turn and came off without achieving adequate height.
The crash occurred in the field of Onelio Charadia where the pilot died on the scene.
Avianca Airbus A318 en route from Bogota to Armenia-El Edén Airport was taking off when it veered right with its nose gear mired in the soft ground.
El Dorado Airport crews responded to the scene. The accident occurred during taxi prior to taking off. Flight 9847 had been scheduled to depart at 2:15 pm Saturday in Bogota to Armenia.
There were 83 people aboard the plane at the time of the incident, none of whom were injured.
Passengers were provided an alternative flight.
An American Airlines 757 from San Jose, Costa Rica to Miami, Florida diverted to San Andres at 9.45 a.m. when there was smoke in the cockpit. Pilots made a safe landing in rainy conditions.
No injuries were reported to the 172 passengers or six crew members aboard. No cause for the smoke has been reported yet. Passengers exited the plane prior to it being examined.
Caracol TV reported that there was a “mechanical issue” behind the diversion
An American Airlines flight AA908, a Boeing 777-200 en route from Buenos Aires to Miami made an emergency landing in Bogota after a warning of a problem in the hold.
There were 250 passengers aboard and 14 crew. No injuries were reported. The indicator was a false alarm.
American Airlines sent a replacement flight from the Colombian capital yesterday, at 13.10 local time.
On July 15, 2013, an Aero Expreso del Pacífico Cessna 402B Utiliner with eleven aboard was en route from Gerardo Tobar López Airport to Pizarro Airport when it developed mechanical problems. Runway conditions and weather conditions may have contributed to the problem.
Pilots made an emergency landing in Pizarro, Bajo Baudo, Chocò, Colombia.
The two pilots and nine passengers were uninjured.
The nose of the plane and the right wing sustained damage. Colombian Marine Brigade No. 2 troops removed the plane from the crash site.
On July 9, 2013 around 9 a.m., a Petronorte MBB/Kawasaki BK 117A-4 was en route to repair the Caño Limon oil pipeline when it crashed near the town of Ocaña in the Norte de Santander, Colombia.
Five people were aboard the helicopter when it crashed.
The damage to the oil pipeline was the result of a FARC attack. The helicopter may have also been attacked but the stories are conflicting. Another report mentions the helicopter striking electrical wires.
The army assisted the oil company with retrieval of the three crewmembers and two petroleum technical workers who died in the crash.
Civil Aeronautics is investigating.
On Feb 26, 2013, an Aeroclub de Flandes Urraco Millenium Plus took off from Flandes with two aboard, pilot Jorge Orlando Ramírez Velásquez and his daughter Estéfanny Lorena Ramírez Isaza.
Charco villagers heard a crash from the skies into the forest when the plane crashed. Emergency services responded to the scene. The pilot was trapped in the cabin, and his daughter suffered trauma. She had apparently tried to jump from the plane. There were no survivors reported.
Ramirez belonged to belonged to Bogota and the Aeroclub of Flanders. He had been piloting his private plane. His daughter wanted to learn to fly.
The accident took place in Carcorrico, in rural Ibagué, presumably due to weather conditions.
What: Avianca en route from Costa Rica to Medellin
Where: Medellin
When: January 19, 2012
Who: unruly passenger
Why: The flight was en route when a disruptive passenger disturbed the flight, attempting to breach the cockpit. He was restrained by fellow passengers.
After landing at Jose Maria Cordova the disruptive passenger was taken into custody. The passenger’s identity was not confirmed.
Pictured: A Colombian Army Blackhawk
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Rogier Westerhuis
What: Colombian Blackhawk
Where: San Jeronimo mountains
When: Dec 3 2011
Who: 4 soldiers, 4 crew
Why: The chopper crashed in the San Jeronimo mountains. No one aboard was seriously injured. The team had been deployed to support a fight against FARC, a group of drug traffickers.
The chopper had just refueled and caught a crosswind. There was minor damage that is reparable.
What: Colombian Police Bell UH-1 Huey en route from La Salina to Yopal
Where: La Salina, Casanare Province Colombia
When: June 11, 2011
Who: 11 aboard, 8 fatalities
Why: In Bogata, a police Huey crashed on take-off when it became entangled with electrical cables (high voltage wires). Mechanical failure may have been involved. Seven died on the scene, and one en route.
The deceased included four helicopter crewmen (Pilot Captain Manuel Niño Nestor Acosta, co-pilot Lt. Fuentes Fabián Meneses and technical sub Leandro Mayor Sanchez) and four members of the police anti-narcotics service (Gutierrez Mendoza Eimer, John Contreras Lobo, John Jewel Delgado, Wilson Germain Medina Correa Delgado and Castillo). Four surviving narcotics officers (Miguel Ochoa Assistant Parrado, Domingo Gamarra Roso, Orlando Castillo and Jose Jaimes Torres Vesga) have been hospitalized.
The helicopter was completely destroyed.
The chopper’s registration number was PLC-0731
What: Aviheco Bell 206L-3 LongRanger III en route from Bucaramanga to Sardinata
Where: El Alto, Lourdes, Norte de Santander Colombia
When: May 23, 2011 4 pm
Who: 2 aboard, both fatalities
Why: Pilot Rodrigo Javier Acosta and tech Jorge Velez Valbuena died in the Aviheco helicopter crash in Colombia. The helicopter may have been struck by lightning or taken down by other storm related condition. The wreckage went down in an area known as “Los Cables” on the “La Aguadita” farm in the village of El Alto. The helicopter was on a reconnaissance flight sponsored by an oil company with local wells . The bodies have been recovered by the Civil Defense commission.
What: Aires Bombardier Dash 8 en route from Medellin to Monteria
Where: Monteria
When: Mar 20th 2011, 20 min after takeoff
Who: 32 passengers 4 crew
Why: Twenty minutes into the 55 minute flight, one of the engines was shut down due to engine trouble. The pilot wanted to land at Caucasia but there was too much fuel, so flew on to the destination at Monteria with its longer runway (6280 feet)) with one engine down.
What: Bell UH-1H
Where: Melgar, Tolima – Colombia
When: March 07, 2011 5:40
Who: 5 fatalities, 4 injuries
Why: Six helicopters were engaged in a training mission when the rotors of two of the UH-1Hs collided. One of the helicopters fell, and caught on fire.
Technician Felipe Pava Rodriguez, technician John Mario Diaz Llanos, Lt. Manuel Alberto Cuspoca, Mexican Lt. Dante Herrera Alarcon, and Capt. Juan Jose Orjuela were killed in the crash. Lt. Hugo Estrada Lopez is one of 4 survivors, all from the 2nd helicopter which managed to make a controlled, if hard, landing.
The cause of the crash has tentatively been attributed to human error.
What: Condor Cessna TU206G Turbo Stationair
Where: El Astillero, Cerro San Antonio de Prado, Colombia
When: October 20, 2010, 9:40 am
Who: 4 aboard, 4 fatalities
Why: The plane carrying provisions to Urabá and 3 passengers flew into San Antonio Mountain, killing all aboard. A would-be passenger’s life was saved because he could not board the flight—because it was full.
The pilot did not report an emergency to the tower.
The pilot was Juan Guillermo Mondragon. Passengers included John Amado Pérez, Osías Sierra and Xenobia Palacios.
What: Alas de Colombia Cessna 172N en route from Bucaramanga to Malaga
Where: Pescaderito Bajo village, a kilometer from Malaga Colombia
When: Oct 15 2010
Who: 4 aboard, all fatalities
Why: The pilot performed two flybys without landing and crashed on the third attempt. The crash may have been due to mechanical failure.
The plane was on a medical mission. The pilot Víctor Granados, anesthesiologist Luis Berrezueta, doctor Martha Rivera and head nurse Alba Hernández were killed in the crash.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Juan_BOG
What: Aires Boeing 737-700 en route from Bogota to San Andrés Island Colombia
Where: Gustavo Rojas Pinilla International Airport on the Colombian island of San Andres
When: August 15 2010, 2:15 a.m.
Who: 131 aboard, 6 crew, 4 minors, 121 adult passengers
Why: Prior to touchdown, the plane was struck by lightning (11 strikes recorded within 6 miles of the runway within a five-minute span of the crash); the plane impacted 80 meters shy of the runway. The impact scattered pieces of the plane, and it broke at the midsection into three main parts. When help arrived, passengers were already strewn about the area. Praise Boeing for no actual fatalities.
The injured are being treated at “Amor de Patria Hospital” and “Villarreal Clinic” on San Andrés Island, with the most injured being ported to Bogata via air ambulance.
After the crash-landing, Mrs. Amar Fernández died of a heart attack en route to the hospital. She was 73. 66 were reported injured, five of them seriously, 35 hospitalized. Alejandro Colmenares Rua (18 months), Yiseth Rua Rojas (23), Catherine Rua Rojas (27), Jacqueline Rua Rojas(23), María Alejandra Ballesteros (21) and Andrés Cagua Calderón (33) were unhurt.
A room has also been opened for relatives at the Sheraton Hotel in Bogota. Aires published a release regretting what has happened. They are working with Aerocivil to serve the passengers and their families. They have provided a care line number: 018000-949490
Relatives of the occupants may contact the Hotel Habitel where they will receive all Aires information.
Flights at Gustavo Rojas Pinilla are suspended. Civil Aeronautics, the Navy, the Colombian Air Force, National Police, Red Cross, the company Aires and other institutions of the Regional Committee for Disaster Prevention and Response have responded.
What: Cessna T210L en route from Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia to Quibdó, Colombia
Where: Puente Iglesias, Fredonia Colombia
When: June 15, 2010
Who: 2 fatalities
Why: Near Puente Iglesias, the illegal flight was lost at dusk over the Cauca river; no trace of the crew was found. Searchers found a bag containing 57 kilos of cocaine aboard. Witnesses to the crash said the crew had been seen on the plane in the river, but there had not been time to reach them before the plane sank in the river. Rescuers are looking for the bodies along the river.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Diego Torres
What: Fuerza Aérea de Colombia MD Helicopters/Hughes 500/530
Where: Chaparral, Tolima Colombia
When: April 20, 2010 1:45 pm
Who: 7 deaths reported
Why: While performing maneuvers, a Bell 222UT helicopter and a Colombian Air Force MDH/Hughes 500/530 crashed on a military garrison near the town of Chaparral, Tolima.
Army:
– General Brigadier Fernando Joya Duarte, commander of the Task Force of the South of the Tolima.
– Colonel Brown Arturo Herrera Castaño, commander of Movable Brigade 20.
– Lieutenant Colonel Juan Gonzalo Lopera Echeverry, operations officer of the Task Force of the South of Tolima.
Air Force:
– Aviation technician Eider Vargas Avendaño, crew member.
– Aviation technician Víctor Sorza Pulido, crew member.
Vertical Aviation:
– Commander (r.) Rodolfo Garzón Venegas, pilot of Vertical Aviation Bell 222
– Lieutenant of Frigate (r.) Camilo Andrés Cujar, copilot.
The Army Captain Ejército Alejandro Suescún, professional soldier Jairo Suárez, the Air Force lieutenant Alcides Otálora Polo (pilot) and the technician José Hefner Lerma Prieto suffered burns and fractures but survived..
What: American Airlines Boeing 737-800 en route from Cali Colombia to Miami
Where: Cali Colombia
When: Apr 16 2010
Who: 95 passengers
Why: While en route, a fire developed aboard the galley. The crew decided to return to Cali where they made a safe landing. A couple of hours later, after inspection, the plane was returned to service.
Pictured: An Aero Republica Colombia Embraer ERJ-190-100IGW 190AR in Colombia
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Alvaro
What: Aero Republica Embraer ERJ-190 en route from Bogota to San Andres Island Colombia
Where: Bogota
When: Jan 3rd 2010
Who: 63 passengers
Why: After takeoff, the plane developed cabin pressure problems. The plane returned to the Bogota airport and made a safe landing.
Pictured: An ALPA Hughes 500D (369D), Medellin Colombia
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Andres Dallimonti
What: Servicio Aéreo de Ibagué Hughes 369D
Where: Pitalito, Colombia
When: Dec 29, 2009
Who: 1 fatality (2 or 3 aboard.)
Why: One of the people aboard died in the crash which occurred in an area between two Pitalito neighborhoods. The Air Society Ibague helicopter apparently originated in Ibague, capital of Tolima. Its destination is unknown. Witnesses say the helicopter made strange turns in the air, but the pilot managed not to strike any houses.
There have been reports of one and two individuals injured.
