Medellín – Armenia

On January 11, 1954 at 06:15 AM, Medellín – Armenia experienced a crash involving Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3), operated by Avianca, with the event recorded near Manizales Caldas.

The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a mountains crash site.

23 people were known to be on board, 23 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 4, crew fatalities: 4, passengers on board: 19, passenger fatalities: 19, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. At 0600LT, the crew started the descent to Armenia Airport but was instructed by ATC to divert to Manizales due to poor weather at destination. The crew modified his route and diverted to Manizales Airport located about 60 km north of Armenia. About fifteen minutes later, while descending to Manizales by night and poor weather conditions, the aircraft collided with a mountain shrouded by clouds and disintegrated on impact, killing all 23 occupants.

Aircraft reference details include registration HK-160, MSN 19540, year of manufacture 1944.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 5.1625°, -75.6611°.