Quibdó – Medellín

En route from Quibdó to Medellín, the crew encountered marginal weather conditions with mist and intermittent rain falls. While cruising at an altitude of 11,500 feet, the aircraft struck the slope of Mt El Plateado located in the northeast part of the Chocó province, about 66 km northeast of Quibdó. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and all 23 occupants were killed.

Flight / Schedule

Quibdó – Medellín

Registration

HK-1910

MSN

497

Year of Manufacture

1976

Date

January 23, 1985 at 10:35 AM

Type

CRASH

Flight Type

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Flight Phase

Flight

Crash Site

Mountains

Crash Location

Mt El Plateado Chocó

Region

South America • Colombia

Crash Cause

Human factor

Narrative Report

On January 23, 1985 at 10:35 AM, Quibdó – Medellín experienced a crash involving De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter, operated by ACES Colombia - Aerolineas Centrales de Colombia, with the event recorded near Mt El Plateado Chocó.

The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was flight 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: 3, crew fatalities: 3, passengers on board: 20, passenger fatalities: 20, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. En route from Quibdó to Medellín, the crew encountered marginal weather conditions with mist and intermittent rain falls. While cruising at an altitude of 11,500 feet, the aircraft struck the slope of Mt El Plateado located in the northeast part of the Chocó province, about 66 km northeast of Quibdó. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and all 23 occupants were killed.

Aircraft reference details include registration HK-1910, MSN 497, year of manufacture 1976.

Fatalities

Total

23

Crew

3

Passengers

20

Other

0

Crash Summary

En route from Quibdó to Medellín, the crew encountered marginal weather conditions with mist and intermittent rain falls. While cruising at an altitude of 11,500 feet, the aircraft struck the slope of Mt El Plateado located in the northeast part of the Chocó province, about 66 km northeast of Quibdó. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and all 23 occupants were killed.

Cause: Human factor

Occupants & Outcome

Crew On Board

3

Passengers On Board

20

Estimated Survivors

0

Fatality Rate

100.0%

Known people on board: 23

Operational Details

Schedule / Flight

Quibdó – Medellín

Flight Type

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Flight Phase

Flight

Crash Site

Mountains

Region / Country

South America • Colombia

Aircraft Details

Registration

HK-1910

MSN

497

Year of Manufacture

1976

Similar Plane Crashes

April 29, 1920 at 12:00 AM1 Fatalities

Compañia Colombiana de Navegación Aérea

Farman F.40

The aircraft was performing a local flight with three passengers and one pilot on board. Shortly after takeoff, while climbing to a height of about 100 metres, the aircraft was caught by a strong wind, rolled to the left and hit the ground. While all three passengers were seriously injured, the pilot was killed. They were completing their first flight. Crew: Jacques Jourdanet, pilot. Passengers: Mrs. Pepa Restrepo de Vásquez and her both sons.

July 20, 1920 at 12:00 AM2 Fatalities

Compañia Colombiana de Navegación Aérea

Farman F.40

Shortly after takeoff from the bay of Cartagena, while climbing, the engine stopped. The pilot Félix Fratoni lost control of the aircraft that lost height and crashed in the sea. The pilot and a passenger were killed while a second passenger was injured. Miguel Araujo, Director of the newspaper 'El Porvenir', was the only survivor.

February 6, 1923 at 04:00 PM1 Fatalities

SCADTA - Sociedad Colombo-Alemana de Transportes Aéreos

Junkers F.13

While taking off from the Rio Magdalena in Girardot, the seaplane named 'Colombia' hit a rock and crashed. The mechanic Schröder was killed while all five other occupants were injured, among them the pilot Oswald Schütz.

December 31, 1923 at 12:00 AM

SCADTA - Sociedad Colombo-Alemana de Transportes Aéreos

Junkers F.13

Crashed somewhere in Colombia during 1923. Exact date unknown.

June 8, 1924 at 02:50 PM6 Fatalities

SCADTA - Sociedad Colombo-Alemana de Transportes Aéreos

Junkers F.13

Shortly after takeoff, the pilot initiated some manoeuvre at low height, most probably to demonstrate the capabilities and efficiency of the aircraft. Unfortunately, the engine suffered problems and the aircraft stalled before crashing onto houses. While all six occupants were killed, nobody on the ground was hurt. Names 'Tolima', the aircraft was totally destroyed. The crew was performing a promotional tour in South America and departed Barranquilla on a flight to Bogotá. Crew: Hermut von Krohn, pilot, Wilhelm Fischer, mechanic. Passengers: Ernesto Cortissoz, Colombian Aviator and Pioneer, Albrecht Nikisch von Roseneck, Fritz Troost, Christian Ludwig Meyer.

September 3, 1926 at 12:00 AM

SCADTA - Sociedad Colombo-Alemana de Transportes Aéreos

Junkers F.13

Upon landing on the Rio Magdalena off Puerto Wilches, the seaplane named 'Caldas' went out of control and sank. All four occupants were injured while the aircraft was destroyed. Crew: Oswald Schütz, pilot, Fritz Wülfert, mechanic.