33 fatalities

1950-01-20: Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) (TAM-10) — TAM Bolivia - Transporte Aéreo Militar Boliviano — Vacas, Bolivia

Vacas, BoliviaFlight

On January 20, 1950, a Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) (registration TAM-10) operated by TAM Bolivia - Transporte Aéreo Militar Boliviano was involved in an aviation accident near Vacas, Bolivia in flight. 33 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Apparently due to poor weather conditions and lack of visibility, the crew started the descent prematurely, causing the aircraft to collide with a mountain that was shrouded in clouds. 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.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 1781258484Data APIEditorial standards

A military aircraft crashed into a mountain near Cochabamba during descent in poor weather, killing all 32 occupants and one person on the ground.

Accident

On an unspecified date, a military aircraft was cruising in poor weather conditions in the region of Vacas, Bolivia. The crew initiated a descent to Cochabamba when the aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located 64 kilometers southeast of Jorge Wilsterman Airport. The mountain was shrouded in clouds at the time of the collision.

Victims

The accident resulted in the deaths of all 32 occupants on board, consisting of 28 soldiers and 4 crew members. Additionally, one woman on the ground was killed.

Investigation

An official investigation was conducted to determine the cause of the accident. The findings were released as part of the official report.

Probable Cause

According to the official investigation, the probable cause of the accident was the crew's premature descent initiation, apparently due to poor weather conditions and lack of visibility. This led to the aircraft colliding with a mountain that was obscured by clouds.