No fatalities

Emergency landing at Neiva Airport following technical issues (HK-136)

Neiva, ColombiaLanding (descent or approach)

On August 11, 1981, a Douglas DC-4 (registration HK-136) operated by Sociedad Aérea del Caqueta - Sadelca Colombia was involved in an aviation accident near Neiva, Colombia during landing or approach. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Unidentified mechanical issues occurred during the descent, necessitating an emergency landing in a field. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 2 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-06-11Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft performing a descent into Neiva Airport was forced to make an emergency landing in a field due to unidentified mechanical difficulties.

What happened

During the approach phase of flight toward Neiva Airport, the crew experienced unspecified technical malfunctions. As these issues developed during the descent, the flight crew determined that an emergency landing was necessary to ensure safety.

The aircraft subsequently landed in an open field to avoid further complications. Following the touchdown, all occupants successfully exited the aircraft without sustaining any injuries. While there were zero fatalities and no reported injuries, the impact resulted in the aircraft being declared a total loss, as it sustained damage beyond repair.

Findings

The precise nature of the technical problems encountered by the crew remains undetermined at this time. The primary factor leading to the emergency landing was the occurrence of unknown technical problems during the descent.

Probable cause

Unidentified mechanical issues occurred during the descent, necessitating an emergency landing in a field.