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44 fatalities

Fatal aircraft accident near Valladolid (HC-BHZ)

Valladolid, EcuadorFlight

On September 1, 1982, a De Havilland DHC-4 Caribou (registration HC-BHZ) operated by Aerolineas Condor was involved in an aviation accident near Valladolid, Ecuador in flight. 44 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The crew experienced spatial disorientation during flight through bad weather, leading to a controlled flight into terrain. 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.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-06-11Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft flying from Zumba to Loja crashed into a mountainside in the Valladolid region, resulting in no survivors.

What happened

During a flight traveling from Zumba toward Loja, an aircraft encountered severe weather conditions while cruising. During this period of inclement weather, the crew experienced spatial disorientation. This loss of orientation led to the aircraft impacting the side of a mountain situated in the Valladolid area.

Upon striking the terrain, the plane suffered a complete structural breakup. There were no survivors among the passengers and crew; the accident resulted in 44 fatalities.

Findings

  • The flight was operating in adverse meteorological conditions at the time of the crash.
  • The crew became disoriented while navigating through the mountainous terrain.

Probable cause

The crew experienced spatial disorientation during flight through bad weather, leading to a controlled flight into terrain.

Related events

Same operator

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