On December 7, 1973, a Curtiss C-46 Commando (registration CP-910) operated by Transaéreos Illimani was involved in an aviation accident near Santa Ana, Bolivia during landing or approach. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The engine failed and caught fire during the approach to the airport. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
An engine failure and subsequent fire occurred while an aircraft was descending into Santa Ana Airport, resulting in the loss of the airframe.
What happened
During the descent phase toward Santa Ana Airport, the aircraft experienced a mechanical failure involving the left engine. This malfunction led to an active fire within the engine compartment. Despite the emergency situation, the crew managed to maintain control of the flight and proceed with the landing sequence.
The aircraft successfully touched down on the runway and came to a complete stop. Following the landing, all four occupants were able to exit the plane without injury. However, the intense heat from the engine fire caused the total destruction of the aircraft type during the incident.
Findings
Investigations into the event determined that the primary factor was an engine failure and subsequent fire occurring while the aircraft was on approach.
Probable cause
The engine failed and caught fire during the approach to the airport.