C-47 crash near Santa Marta

8 fatalities • Mt Kennedy, Colombia • Flight

A Douglas C-47 crashed into Mount Kennedy during a scheduled flight to Bogotá, resulting in the deaths of all eight people on board.

What happened

A flight operated from Riohacha Airport toward Bogotá, which included planned stops at Barranquilla and Santa Marta, ended in a fatal accident. The Douglas C-47 departed Riohacha at 16:15 local time. While the aircraft was navigating through low cloud cover approximately five minutes before its scheduled arrival at Santa Marta-Simon Bolivar Airport, it collided with the side of Mt Kennedy.

The impact occurred roughly 22 km east of the airport. Search efforts located the wreckage in a remote area three days after the incident. There were eight fatalities recorded, as all crew members and passengers on board perished in the crash.

Findings

Investigations into the accident concluded that the primary factor was controlled flight into terrain.

Probable cause

The aircraft flew into the terrain while under controlled conditions.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1978-07-16 Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) accident near Mt Kennedy, Colombia?

A Douglas C-47 crashed into Mount Kennedy during a scheduled flight to Bogotá, resulting in the deaths of all eight people on board.

Were there any fatalities in the 1978-07-16 Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 8 fatalities.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1978-07-16 involved a Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3), registration FAC-680, operated by Colombian Air Force - Fuerza Aérea Colombiana, at Mt Kennedy, Colombia.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The aircraft flew into the terrain while under controlled conditions.

Loading the flight search…