What happened
At 03:15 local time, a scheduled cargo flight departed from runway 30 at Bogotá-El Dorado International Airport, bound for Barranquilla-Soledad Airport. Witnesses near the control tower observed the Douglas DC-4 struggling to gain altitude during its initial climb. Upon reaching the airport perimeter, the crew notified air traffic control of their intention to return for an emergency landing. The controllers attempted to inquire about the nature of the emergency, but no response was received from the cockpit.
Personnel at the tower reported hearing unusually loud engine noise during the takeoff roll, suggesting that multiple engines were experiencing overspeed conditions. As the aircraft began a turn, observers noted a bright flash, after which the plane disappeared from visual range. The aircraft subsequently collided with trees near the "Laguna Vieja" estate, located approximately 400 meters from the "San Ramón" property between the Funza and Engativá roads. The impact and subsequent fire caused the total destruction of the airframe and resulted in 2 fatalities.
Findings
Investigations determined that a mechanical failure occurred within the governor control unit, specifically involving fatigue failure of several pinion teeth. This failure caused the mechanism to jam against the rack in the upward position, forcing the engine to operate at maximum RPM. This malfunction led to a runaway propeller and an engine overspeed during the critical takeoff phase. Additionally, inadequate oversight by the operator was identified as a contributing factor, as the pilot-in-command had been assigned a night flight despite lacking the necessary qualifications for the Douglas DC-4, as he was still in training for the L-759.