Transportes Aéreos del Ariari - TARI

Douglas DC-3

The aircraft, chartered by the Colombian Army, was completing a special flight from Miraflores to Villavicencio with an intermediate stop in San José del Guaviare, carrying three crew members and a certain number of soldiers (around 25 but the exact number could not be confirmed). Shortly after takeoff from runway 20, while in initial climb, the left engine caught fire. The crew elected to return for an emergency landing and initiated a right turn when smoke entered the cabin. Shortly later, the left main gear detached and as the speed dropped, the crew attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft crashed in a wooded area located 2 km from the airport. All occupants were rescued, some were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.