On April 16, 1982, a Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) operated by Private United States of America was involved in an aviation accident near Polonuevo, Colombia in flight. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The aircraft was engaged in an unauthorized international flight between Colombia and the United States at the time of the crash. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
An aircraft crashed in Polonuevo, Colombia, during a nighttime flight, resulting in serious injuries to both crew members.
What happened
During a nighttime operation, an aircraft crashed in the vicinity of Polonuevo, situated approximately 14 kilometers southwest of the Barranquilla-Ernesto Cortissoz Airport. The incident occurred while the aircraft was involved in an unauthorized flight path between Colombia and the United States.
Upon impact, the aircraft was completely destroyed. Both members of the crew sustained serious injuries during the accident. The specific circumstances surrounding the descent and subsequent crash remain under investigation.
Findings
- The flight was being conducted as an illegal flight between Colombia and the United States.
- The accident took place during nighttime flight operations.
Probable cause
The aircraft was engaged in an unauthorized international flight between Colombia and the United States at the time of the crash.