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Twin-Engine Aircraft Ditches in Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta After Right Engine Failure (HK-1711)

Ciénaga, ColombiaFlight

On January 9, 1978, a Britten-Norman Trislander (registration HK-1711) operated by Transportes Colombiana de Aviacion - TAVINA was involved in an aviation accident near Ciénaga, Colombia in flight. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Failure of the right engine for unknown reasons. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 2 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Source recordUpdated 2026-09-03Data APIEditorial standards

A three-engine aircraft ditched in a lagoon near Santa Marta after its right engine failed during a scheduled flight from Barranquilla to Valledupar. All 18 occupants escaped uninjured; the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Incident Overview and Flight Details A three-engine aircraft departed Barranquilla-Ernesto Cortissoz Airport at 0820 local time on a scheduled service to Valledupar. The aircraft was carrying 16 passengers and a crew of two, for a total of 18 occupants. The flight was operating under regular schedule service conditions when the incident occurred.## Engine Failure and Emergency Ditching Approximately thirty minutes after departure, the right engine lost power and failed. The crew was unable to maintain the prescribed altitude following the engine failure. In response, the crew attempted an emergency landing and ditched the aircraft in shallow water in the Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta lagoon. All 18 occupants escaped the aircraft uninjured. The aircraft sustained damage beyond repair.

Probable cause

Failure of the right engine for unknown reasons.
Engine failure

Related events

Same operator

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 9 Jan 1978 Britten-Norman Trislander accident near Ciénaga, Colombia?

A three-engine aircraft ditched in a lagoon near Santa Marta after its right engine failed during a scheduled flight from Barranquilla to Valledupar. All 18 occupants escaped uninjured; the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Were there any fatalities in the 9 Jan 1978 Britten-Norman Trislander accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 9 Jan 1978 involved a Britten-Norman Trislander, registration HK-1711, operated by Transportes Colombiana de Aviacion - TAVINA, at Ciénaga, Colombia.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

Failure of the right engine for unknown reasons.

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