Condoto – Buenaventura – Cali

On March 9, 1957 at 10:00 AM, Condoto – Buenaventura – Cali experienced a crash involving Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3), operated by Avianca, with the event recorded near Tuluá Valle del Cauca.

The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was flight at a mountains crash site.

15 people were known to be on board, 15 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 3, crew fatalities: 3, passengers on board: 12, passenger fatalities: 12, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. HK-155 departed Cali for Condoto at 0827LT. It reported taking-off from Condoto on the return flight at 0950LT and advised that it would fly via Buenaventura. Shortly after take-off, HK-155 changed from Condoto Tower frequency to the Cali aeronautical telecommunications frequency and reported at 0958 that it had departed Condoto at 0950 with a load of 975 kg including 12 passengers and that it was proceeding to Cali via Buenaventura. No record could be found of a later call from the aircraft on any of the frequencies available. The flight from Condoto to Cali would normally take about 50 to 55 minutes. At 1037, Cali called HK-155 but received no reply. The Cali route frequencies log indicates at 1107 that Bogota: ATC had declared an alert with regard to HK-155. The wreckage was found on the slope of a wooded mountain located 32 km west of Tuluá. All 15 occupants were killed.

Aircraft reference details include registration HK-155, MSN 4338, year of manufacture 1942.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 4.0990°, -76.2012°.