Investigation Summary
The flight was a scheduled domestic service from Barranquilla to Bogotá. As the aircraft approached the mountainous region surrounding the capital, it encountered significant fog that obscured the terrain. The crew, consisting of two American pilots and two flight attendants (one from Costa Rica and one from Colombia), was navigating toward Techo International Airport. A farmer near Supatá witnessed the aircraft shortly before it struck the 10,500-foot peak of Mount El Tablazo. The impact resulted in a massive explosion and the total destruction of the airframe. Due to the remote location and communication delays, the Ministry of War did not notify the destination airport of the crash until four hours after the event occurred.
Final Conclusions
The accident was classified as Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT). The primary factors were pilot and navigational errors while operating in adverse weather conditions. The presence of thick fog prevented the crew from visually identifying Mount El Tablazo, and the aircraft was flying at an altitude insufficient to clear the terrain on its flight path.
Photographic Evidence (1)
Video Analysis
No video analysis linked for this case file yet.
Airframe & Maintenance
Systems & Failure Modes
Navigation Instruments
The crew relied on radio and visual navigation to clear the mountainous terrain surrounding Bogotá.
Interesting Facts
- 01The crash was the deadliest aviation accident in Colombia up to that date.
- 02The wreckage was located approximately 30 kilometers northwest of Bogotá.
- 03The aircraft was a Douglas DC-4 manufactured in 1944 with serial number (MSN) 10439.
- 04The aircraft was powered by four Pratt & Whitney R-2000 Twin Wasp engines.
- 05Among the victims was Romelio Martínez, a prominent Colombian footballer.
- 06The passenger list included several American and British executives from the Tropical Oil Company.