ASN Aircraft accident Douglas C-47B-45-DK (DC-3) HC-AFQ Pastaza Airport (PTZ)
ASN logo
 

Status:Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Date:Thursday 16 September 1965
Time:11:02
Type:Silhouette image of generic DC3 model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different
Douglas C-47B-45-DK (DC-3)
Operator:Transportes Aéreos Orientales - TAO
Registration: HC-AFQ
MSN: 34272/17009
First flight: 1945
Total airframe hrs:10982
Engines: 2 Pratt & Whitney R-1830-90C
Crew:Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 3
Passengers:Fatalities: 6 / Occupants: 8
Total:Fatalities: 9 / Occupants: 11
Aircraft damage: Damaged beyond repair
Location:6 km (3.8 mls) NE of Pastaza Airport (PTZ) (   Ecuador)
Phase: En route (ENR)
Nature:Domestic Scheduled Passenger
Departure airport:Coca Airport (OCC/SECO), Ecuador
Destination airport:Pastaza Airport (PTZ/SESM), Ecuador
Narrative:
The aircraft took off from Coca Airport (OCC) at 10:20 hours on a scheduled domestic flight to Pastaza (PTZ). The flight was to take approximately 45 minutes. At 10:52 hours the pilot reported over Arajuno, indicating that he was flying at 4500 ft, mainly IFR. Thereafter the weather conditions further deteriorated and the aircraft finally entered a poor weather zone with continuous rain. It collided with trees and then crashed on a hillside.

Probable Cause:

PROBABLE CAUSE: "The accident was due to adverse weather conditions and imprudence on the part of the pilot who changed from VFR to IFR flight without having the requisite navigation aids for the type of flight he was carrying out. Among the contributing causes were the following : failure to consult the weather report and errors in the airline office, possible overconfidence on the part of the pilot in that he carried out the flight knowing that the radio beacon was inoperative, and presumed negligence on the part of the airport commandant, who failed to declare the aerodrome closed when conditions were below the meteorological minima."

Classification:

Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) - Mountain

Sources:
» ICAO Circular 88/74 Volume III (39-42)


Photos

Add your photo of this accident or aircraft

Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Coca Airport to Pastaza Airport as the crow flies is 166 km (104 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.

This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
languages: languages

Share

The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:

CONNECT WITH US: FSF on social media FSF Facebook FSF Twitter FSF Youtube FSF LinkedIn FSF Instagram

©2024 Flight Safety Foundation

1920 Ballenger Av, 4th Fl.
Alexandria, Virginia 22314
www.FlightSafety.org