Aerocondor de Colombia - Aerovias Condor

Lockheed L-188 Electra

Just after liftoff at Bogotá-El Dorado Airport, while in initial climb, the four engine airplane adopted a nose up attitude. With a high angle of attack, the airplane stalled and banked right before crashing in flames onto the tarmac where it collided with a parked Aerocosta Colombia DC-6F registered HK-756. Both aircraft were destroyed by fire and while the DC-6 was empty, two of the four crew members on board the Electra were killed.

Canadair CL-44

The crew departed Medellín-Enrique Olaya Herrera Airport by night on a cargo flight to Miami via Barranquilla. Seven minutes after takeoff, the four engine airplane struck a 15 meters high pine tree with its right wing, went out of control and crashed on the slope of Mt Piedras Blancas (1,200 meters high) located about 11 km north of the airport. The aircraft was destroyed and all five occupants were killed.

Lockheed L-188 Electra

After takeoff from runway 12 at Bogotá-El Dorado Airport, while in initial climb in limited visibility, the four engine airplane struck the slope of Mt El Cable located 11 km southeast of the airport. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 42 occupants were killed.

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Just after liftoff, while in initial climb, an engine lost power. The airplane stalled and struck the runway surface, overran and came to rest in flames 50 meters past the runway end. All 22 occupants were evacuated, four of them were injured. The aircraft was destroyed by fire.

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Shortly after takeoff from Bogotá-El Dorado, the airplane encountered difficulties to gain height. One minute after liftoff, the crew attempted an emergency landing and completed a belly landing in a wasteland. Both pilots were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Lockheed L-1649 Starliner

The aircraft, which was on wet lease from Passaat Ltd., Miami, U.S.A., to Aerocondor de Colombia, was on a non-scheduled international flight from Miami International Airport, U.S.A., to Bogotá-El Dorado Airport, Colombia. The flight took off from Miami at 2040 hours local time on 17 December and proceeded normally. At 0240 hours local time, on 18 December, it reported over the Bogotá VOR at 12,000 feet and requested from the Air Route Traffic Control Centre authorization to change over to frequency 118.1 mcs and to contact El Dorado Control Tower. This was granted and communications were established with the Control Tower. The flight was given a QNH of 30.14 in. Hg. and was cleared for landing on Runway 12; however, it requested permission to land on Runway 30. It was then instructed to proceed directly to the inner marker for Runway 12, at 8,895 feet (elevation of the airport was 8,364 feet) and if visual to make a circling approach to Runway 30. There were fog patches on and in the vicinity of the aerodrome. The tower communications tape recording revealed that the flight reported proceeding inbound to Runway 12 and that it was instructed to continue its approach to Runway 12 as the fog appeared to be thinning out in that direction. Shortly thereafter the tower asked "how is visibility in the direction of 12" and the flight replied "It is a little better, I think we can make it in a second". At 0753 hours GMT the flight requested permission to land and the tower replied 'I... correct, cleared to land if you can do so, lights are at maximum intensity, let us know if it is necessary to reduce them'. The flight advised the lights were OK and reported on final approach. It was cleared to land and was advised again that the wind was calm and the QNH was 30.14 in. Hg. It acknowledged the message by "Thanks". Some 10 to 20 sec. later an explosion was heard and the control tower called the flight several times in vain. The fire crews were immediately alerted and directed to the threshold of Runway 12. They reported that the wreckage of the aircraft was some 10 to 20 m before the threshold of Runway 12. Four crew members and 13 passengers were killed while 42 other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.

Curtiss C-46 Commando

During the takeoff roll at Barranquilla-Soledad Airport, the airplane went out of control and came to rest in flames. Both pilots escaped uninjured while the aircraft was destroyed.