Investigation Summary
The flight was an empty positioning leg intended to ferry the aircraft to Campinas, Brazil, operated on behalf of Alas Paraguayas. The aircraft, a Douglas DC-8-55CF (MSN 45882), had a long history, originally serving Japan Air Lines as JA8018 and later Aeronaves del Peru as OB-R-1200. It was delivered to LAC Colombia in 1994 as HK-2632 before being re-registered as HK-3979X. Taking advantage of the light weight of the empty aircraft, the crew decided to perform maneuvers that were not part of the authorized flight plan. Shortly after liftoff from runway 02, the captain simulated engine failures by reducing power on two of the aircraft's four engines. This was done at a low altitude (approximately 500 feet) while the landing gear was still extended and flaps were set to 15 degrees, creating significant drag. The co-pilot, who was reportedly a novice, was given control of the aircraft during these maneuvers. Cockpit voice recordings indicated the co-pilot asked the other crew members to stop joking as the aircraft became unstable. The crew attempted to restore power, but the aircraft suffered carburetion explosions as it was forced into a steep climb without sufficient airspeed, leading to a total loss of lift and control.
Final Conclusions
The investigation concluded that the probable cause was a violent collision with the ground following a loss of control in flight. This was triggered by incorrectly executed procedures during the critical takeoff phase, resulting in an adverse aircraft configuration that could not be counteracted. Contributing factors included the pilot in command's limited experience in that role, a lack of cockpit safety doctrine, the execution of unauthorized training by an unqualified instructor, and a lack of familiarity with the flight characteristics of an empty aircraft.
Video Analysis
LAC Colombia Flight 028 Aftermath Footage | 4 February 1996 Asunción, Paraguay — Archival news footage showing the crash site in Mariano Roque Alonso where a LAC Colombia DC-8 cargo plane crashed into a soccer field, killing 22 people.
If playback is blocked, the owner has disabled embedding — use the link above.
Airframe & Maintenance
Crew Experience
Captain
Limited experience in the role of Pilot in Command.
Co-pilot
Described as a novice in the context of the unauthorized maneuvers.
Systems & Failure Modes
Pratt & Whitney JT3D-3B Engines
The aircraft was powered by four JT3D turbofan engines. During the accident, two engines on the left side were intentionally throttled back, creating an asymmetrical thrust condition.
Landing Gear and Flaps
The crew failed to retract the landing gear after takeoff while simulating engine failures, which significantly increased drag and contributed to the aircraft's inability to maintain speed.
Interesting Facts
- 01The accident is the deadliest aviation disaster in Paraguayan history.
- 02Thirteen of the eighteen ground fatalities were children playing volleyball on a sports field.
- 03The aircraft was 29 years old at the time of the accident, having originally served with Japan Air Lines.
- 04The flight was a non-revenue positioning flight operated on behalf of Alas Paraguayas.
- 05The airline, Líneas Aéreas del Caribe (LAC), ceased operations later in 1996 following the crash.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Cockpit Discipline Reinforcement
The investigation emphasized the need for strict adherence to flight safety doctrine and the prohibition of unauthorized training maneuvers during operational flights.