4 fatalities

Disappearance and Recovery of Aerial Photography Aircraft Near Bogotá (C-63)

Sumapaz, ColombiaFlight

On January 17, 1939, a Ford 5 (registration C-63) operated by SCADTA - Sociedad Colombo-Alemana de Transportes Aéreos was involved in an aviation accident near Sumapaz, Colombia in flight. 4 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 2026-08-04Data APIEditorial standards

A three-engine aircraft named 'Leticia' vanished after departing Bogotá-Techo Airport on a photography mission. The wreckage was discovered years later in an isolated area, resulting in the loss of all four occupants.

What happened

The incident involved a three-engine aircraft operating under the name 'Leticia'. The plane was conducting an aerial photography mission when it departed from Bogotá-Techo Airport. The flight failed to reach its intended destination, and no communication or arrival confirmation was received.

Search and rescue operations were immediately initiated to locate the missing aircraft and its occupants. Despite these efforts, no trace of the plane or the four people on board was found during the initial search period. The individuals involved included a photographer and a crew of three.

Several years after the disappearance, hikers discovered the wreckage in a remote and isolated area. The recovery confirmed that all four occupants had perished in the accident.