No fatalities

1977-02-01: Curtiss C-46 Commando (CP-540) — Servicios Aéreos Bolivianos - SAB — Espíritu Santo, Bolivia

Espíritu Santo, BoliviaFlight

On February 1, 1977, a Curtiss C-46 Commando (registration CP-540) operated by Servicios Aéreos Bolivianos - SAB was involved in an aviation accident near Espíritu Santo, Bolivia in flight. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The accident was caused by an engine failure of unknown origin during flight. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 3 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 1781228383Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft crashed in a wooded area after experiencing an engine malfunction during flight, resulting in injuries to both crew members.

What happened

During the course of the flight, the aircraft experienced a sudden loss of power due to an engine failure. In response to the mechanical malfunction, the crew initiated procedures for an emergency landing. During the attempt to reach the ground safely, the plane impacted a wooded area.

As a result of the impact, both pilots sustained injuries. The aircraft itself was destroyed in the crash and is considered a total loss.

Findings

Investigations into the incident identified that the primary factor leading to the crash was an engine failure occurring while the aircraft was in flight. The specific underlying reason for the engine's loss of power remains undetermined.

Probable cause

The accident was caused by an engine failure of unknown origin during flight.