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12 fatalities

Aircraft Crash on Mt. Cunatincuta Near La Paz (TAM-60)

La Paz, BoliviaTakeoff (climb)

On February 17, 1971, a Curtiss C-46 Commando (registration TAM-60) operated by TAM Bolivia - Transporte Aéreo Militar Boliviano was involved in an aviation accident near La Paz, Bolivia during takeoff. 12 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Controlled flight into terrain. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 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

An aircraft crashed into Mt. Cunatincuta near La Paz-El Alto Airport 13 minutes after takeoff in poor weather, killing all 12 occupants. The official probable cause was controlled flight into terrain.

Incident Overview 13 minutes after departing from La Paz-El Alto Airport, an aircraft crashed into Mt. Cunatincuta, a mountain located a few kilometers from the capital city. The accident occurred while the aircraft was climbing in poor weather conditions. The aircraft was destroyed, and all 12 occupants on board were killed. ## Official Findings The official investigation determined that the probable cause of the accident was controlled flight into terrain. No specific aircraft type, registration, operator, or date is provided in the source material. ## Context The crash site was situated on Mt. Cunatincuta, near La Paz. The poor weather conditions during the climb were noted as part of the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Controlled flight into terrain

Related events

Same operator

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 17 Feb 1971 Curtiss C-46 Commando accident near La Paz, Bolivia?

An aircraft crashed into Mt. Cunatincuta near La Paz-El Alto Airport 13 minutes after takeoff in poor weather, killing all 12 occupants. The official probable cause was controlled flight into terrain.

Were there any fatalities in the 17 Feb 1971 Curtiss C-46 Commando accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 12 fatalities.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 17 Feb 1971 involved a Curtiss C-46 Commando, registration TAM-60, operated by TAM Bolivia - Transporte Aéreo Militar Boliviano, at La Paz, Bolivia.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

Controlled flight into terrain

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