30 fatalities

Mountain strike during go-around at Cuenca kills 30 (HC-SCA)

Cuenca, EcuadorLanding (descent or approach)

On July 17, 1946, a Curtiss C-46 Commando (registration HC-SCA) operated by ANDESA - Aerovias Nacionales del Ecuador SA was involved in an aviation accident near Cuenca, Ecuador during landing or approach. 30 people were killed. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A).

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-08-05Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft collided with a mountainside while attempting to gain altitude after abandoning a final approach to Cuenca, resulting in the deaths of all 30 people on board.

What happened

During the final approach phase at Cuenca, the flight crew initiated a go-around maneuver, effectively aborting the landing procedure. As the aircraft attempted to climb and regain altitude following this decision, it struck the slope of a mountain situated approximately 1,500 meters from the airfield perimeter.

The impact forces were sufficient to destroy the airframe completely. Tragically, all 30 occupants aboard the vessel perished in the accident. The specific operational or technical factors that led the crew to abandon the approach remain unexplained in the available records.

Findings

Investigative materials indicate that the precise reason for the decision to execute a go-around is currently unknown. No definitive causal link has been established between specific mechanical failures or pilot error and the initial decision to abort the landing, though the subsequent collision with terrain resulted in total loss of the aircraft and all lives on board.