59 fatalities

1976-08-15: SAETA Flight 232 — Ecuador

Ecuador

On August 15, 1976, a SAETA Flight 232 was involved in an aviation accident near Ecuador. 59 people were killed. The investigation identified controlled flight into terrain as a causal factor. This summary draws on records from Wikidata contributors.

SourcesWikidata contributorsPrimary reportUpdated 1780111919Data APIEditorial standards

On 15 August 1976, SAETA Flight 011, a Vickers Viscount 785D, vanished near Chimborazo volcano. The wreckage was officially located in February 2003 after a 26-year search.

Disappearance

SAETA Flight 011 was a scheduled passenger flight operated by SAETA Air Ecuador between Quito and Cuenca. On 15 August 1976, the aircraft, a Vickers Viscount 785D, disappeared near the Chimborazo stratovolcano. The flight was carrying 55 passengers and four crew members.

Search Efforts

Following the loss of contact, search operations were initiated to locate the missing aircraft. These efforts continued over the years, spanning more than two decades. Despite extensive searches, the plane remained undiscovered.

Discovery

In February 2003, after 26 years of searching, the wreckage of SAETA Flight 011 was officially located. The precise location and condition of the wreckage are consistent with the aircraft having crashed near Chimborazo.

Contributing factors

controlled flight into terrain

Investigation report by Wikidata contributors. Original record: https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7388498. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the CC0 (Wikidata).