24 fatalities

Aircraft Vanishes During Flight Between Santa Rosa and La Paz (TAM-52)

Bolivia, BoliviaFlight

On January 10, 1974, a Douglas C-54 Skymaster (registration TAM-52) operated by TAM Bolivia - Transporte Aéreo Militar Boliviano was involved in an aviation accident near Bolivia, Bolivia in flight. 24 people were killed. 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 2026-06-12Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft disappeared from radar while cruising between Santa Rosa and La Paz in poor weather. No distress call was made. Search operations were suspended after no trace of the aircraft or its 24 occupants was found.

Incident Overview

An aircraft disappeared from radar screens while cruising at altitude between Santa Rosa and La Paz. The flight was conducted under poor weather conditions. The crew did not transmit any distress call prior to the loss of radar contact.

Search Efforts

Search and rescue (SAR) operations were initiated following the disappearance. However, after several days, the search was suspended as no trace of the aircraft or its 24 occupants had been located.

Disappearance Circumstances

The aircraft is believed to have crashed in an isolated mountainous area. Investigators suggested that a possible navigation error due to the poor weather conditions may have led to the accident. The exact location of the wreckage remains unknown.