No fatalities

Nose Gear Collapse at Arauca-Santiago Pérez Quiroz Airport (HK-654)

Arauca-Santiago Pérez Quiroz, ColombiaLanding (descent or approach)

On July 16, 1975, a Douglas DC-4 (registration HK-654) operated by Aerotal Colombia - Aerolineas Territoriales de Colombia was involved in an aviation accident near Arauca-Santiago Pérez Quiroz, Colombia during landing or approach. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Failure of the nose gear for unknown reason. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 5 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 suffered a nose gear collapse after landing at Arauca-Santiago Pérez Quiroz Airport. The plane slid on its nose for about a dozen meters before stopping. All eight occupants escaped uninjured, but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Incident Overview and Outcome Following its landing at Arauca-Santiago Pérez Quiroz Airport, the aircraft experienced a failure of its nose gear. The structural collapse caused the airplane to slide on its nose for approximately a dozen meters before it came to a complete stop. Despite the severity of the incident, all eight people on board were able to escape without sustaining injuries. The aircraft sustained damage that was assessed as being beyond repair. ## Official Investigation Findings The official investigation into the accident determined that the probable cause was the failure of the nose gear. The specific reason for this mechanical failure was not identified in the official findings.