Quito - Macas

En route from Quito to Macas on a cargo flight, the airplane struck the slope of the Sangay volcano (5,230 meters high) located 40 km northwest of Macas. A crew member survived while six others were killed.

Flight / Schedule

Quito - Macas

Registration

HC-SJE

MSN

4425

Year of Manufacture

1942

Date

March 14, 1972 at 04:30 PM

Type

CRASH

Flight Type

Cargo

Flight Phase

Flight

Crash Site

Mountains

Crash Location

Mt Sangay Morona Santiago

Region

South America • Ecuador

Coordinates

-1.7679°, -78.0400°

Crash Cause

Human factor

Narrative Report

On March 14, 1972 at 04:30 PM, Quito - Macas experienced a crash involving Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3), operated by ATESA - Aero Taxis Ecuatorianos, with the event recorded near Mt Sangay Morona Santiago.

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

7 people were known to be on board, 6 fatalities were recorded, 1 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 85.7%.

Crew on board: 7, crew fatalities: 6, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. En route from Quito to Macas on a cargo flight, the airplane struck the slope of the Sangay volcano (5,230 meters high) located 40 km northwest of Macas. A crew member survived while six others were killed.

Aircraft reference details include registration HC-SJE, MSN 4425, year of manufacture 1942.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately -1.7679°, -78.0400°.

Fatalities

Total

6

Crew

6

Passengers

0

Other

0

Crash Summary

En route from Quito to Macas on a cargo flight, the airplane struck the slope of the Sangay volcano (5,230 meters high) located 40 km northwest of Macas. A crew member survived while six others were killed.

Cause: Human factor

Occupants & Outcome

Crew On Board

7

Passengers On Board

0

Estimated Survivors

1

Fatality Rate

85.7%

Known people on board: 7

Operational Details

Schedule / Flight

Quito - Macas

Flight Type

Cargo

Flight Phase

Flight

Crash Site

Mountains

Region / Country

South America • Ecuador

Aircraft Details

Registration

HC-SJE

MSN

4425

Year of Manufacture

1942

Similar Plane Crashes

November 4, 1931 at 12:00 AM

Brazilian Air Force - Aviação Militar

Amiot 122/123

The airplane named 'Duque de Caxias' was engaged in a tour over South America with three crew members on board. While flying at an altitude of 3,000 metres over Ecuador, the airplane impacted the slope of a mountain and crashed near Angamarca. All three occupants were rescued. Crew: Cpt Archimedes Cordeiro, Lt Godofredo Vidal, 1st Lt Orsini de Araujo.

March 4, 1938 at 12:00 AM1 Fatalities

Sociedad Ecuatoriana de Transportes Aéreos - SEDTA

Junkers W.34

The pilot was performing a solo mail flight from Quito to Guayaquil. En route, the single engine aircraft hit the Mt Chimborazo located southwest of Ambato. The pilot, the German pioneer Fritz Hammer, founder of this Ecuadorian Operator, was killed.

December 10, 1938 at 12:00 AM

Sociedad Ecuatoriana de Transportes Aéreos - SEDTA

Junkers JU.52

For unknown reasons, the three engine aircraft christened 'Ecuador' went out of control while landing at Quito-Cotocollao Airport. It came to rest and was damaged beyond repair while all five occupants were injured, the copilot seriously. The exact circumstances of the miss landing is unclear.

May 28, 1942 at 12:00 AM

United States Army Air Forces - USAAF

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Crashed in unknown circumstances near Vichy while on a delivery flight. No casualties.

May 30, 1942 at 12:00 AM

United States Army Air Forces - USAAF

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Crashed into the Antillean Sea, off Jamaica, in unknown circumstances. Crew fate remains unknown.

August 23, 1942 at 12:00 AM12 Fatalities

United States Army Air Forces - USAAF

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

The crew was performing a personnel transport from Prestwick to RAF Atcham on behalf of the 64th Transport Group. While flying northeast of Denbigh, the pilot encountered cloudy conditions and the visibility was poor. While flying too low, the aircraft hit the north slope of Mt Moel y Gaer located near Bodfari and was destroyed upon impact. A passenger was seriously injured while all 12 other occupants were killed. Crew (64th TG): 1st Lt Charles Edward Williams, pilot, 1st Lt Richard Pazder, navigator, 2nd Lt Theodore F. Furness Jr., 2nd Lt Morris B. Penner. Passengers: Pvt Harry R. Adams, T/Sgt Jonathan B. Akers, T/Sgt Robert E. Anderson, T/Sgt Isreal Gross, T/Sgt Herman A. Hermes, T/Sgt Raymond S. Nash, T/Sgt Jesse L. Patterson, T/Sgt George A. Lesikar.