Quito - Cuenca

On final approach to Cuenca-Mariscal La Mar Airport, the crew encountered limited visibility due to poor weather conditions. On final, he failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the airplane struck trees and crashed in flames near the district of Gaullum, about 2 km short of runway 05 threshold. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 119 occupants were killed.

Flight / Schedule

Quito - Cuenca

Aircraft

Boeing 737-200

Registration

HC-BIG

MSN

22607

Year of Manufacture

1981

Date

July 11, 1983 at 07:40 AM

Type

CRASH

Flight Type

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Flight Phase

Landing (descent or approach)

Crash Site

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Crash Location

Cuenca-Mariscal La Mar Azuay

Region

South America • Ecuador

Crash Cause

Human factor

Narrative Report

On July 11, 1983 at 07:40 AM, Quito - Cuenca experienced a crash involving Boeing 737-200, operated by Transportes Aéreos Mercantiles Ecuatorianos - TAME, with the event recorded near Cuenca-Mariscal La Mar Azuay.

The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

119 people were known to be on board, 119 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 8, crew fatalities: 8, passengers on board: 111, passenger fatalities: 111, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. On final approach to Cuenca-Mariscal La Mar Airport, the crew encountered limited visibility due to poor weather conditions. On final, he failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the airplane struck trees and crashed in flames near the district of Gaullum, about 2 km short of runway 05 threshold. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 119 occupants were killed.

Aircraft reference details include registration HC-BIG, MSN 22607, year of manufacture 1981.

Fatalities

Total

119

Crew

8

Passengers

111

Other

0

Crash Summary

On final approach to Cuenca-Mariscal La Mar Airport, the crew encountered limited visibility due to poor weather conditions. On final, he failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the airplane struck trees and crashed in flames near the district of Gaullum, about 2 km short of runway 05 threshold. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 119 occupants were killed.

Cause: Human factor

Occupants & Outcome

Crew On Board

8

Passengers On Board

111

Estimated Survivors

0

Fatality Rate

100.0%

Known people on board: 119

Operational Details

Schedule / Flight

Quito - Cuenca

Flight Type

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Flight Phase

Landing (descent or approach)

Crash Site

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Region / Country

South America • Ecuador

Aircraft Details

Aircraft

Boeing 737-200

Registration

HC-BIG

MSN

22607

Year of Manufacture

1981

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.

July 17, 1944 at 12:00 AM5 Fatalities

United States Navy - USN

Consolidated PBY-2 Coronado

Nosed over while landing off the Galapagos Islands. Five crew members were killed.

April 5, 1946 at 12:00 AM

Shell Company of Ecuador

Ford 4

Went out of control on touchdown, nosed over and came to rest. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off.

May 15, 1946 at 12:00 AM

Shell Company of Ecuador

Budd RB-1 Conestoga

For unknown reason, belly landed in Shell-Mera Airport. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off.