Junkers JU.52 accident at Rincón del Tigre, Bolivia, 4 Nov 1940 (CB-17)
On November 4, 1940, a Junkers JU.52 (registration CB-17) operated by Lloyd Aéreo Boliviano - LAB Airlines was involved in an aviation accident near Rincón del Tigre, Bolivia in flight. 17 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The aircraft was not on the intended flight track when the accident occurred. A possible navigation error was committed by the crew who was hampered by the lack of visibility caused by poor weather conditions. 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.
Probable cause
The aircraft was not on the intended flight track when the accident occurred. A possible navigation error was committed by the crew who was hampered by the lack of visibility caused by poor weather conditions.
— NTSB Determination
Accident narrative
The crew was performing a flight from Santa Cruz to Corumbá, Brazil, with intermediate stops in San Ignacio de Velasco, Roboré and Puerto Suárez with several officials on board. The stop at San Ignacio de Velasco was longer than scheduled and the aircraft departed late from Roboré to Puerto Suárez. En route, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and lost his bearings. The captain decided to divert to the Rincón del Tigre Airfield but while descending in low visibility, the three engine aircraft named 'Juan del Valle' impacted the slope of a mountain slope and crashed. The wreckage was found in January 1942 in an isolated area. All 17 occupants were killed. Crew: Georg Jüterbock +2. Passengers: Colonel Jenaro Blacut, José A. Saavedra Rivero, Gabriel René Moreno, Dr. Rómulo Herrera Justiniano, Blanca Catera de Herrera, Agustín Landívar Zambrana, Dr. Adalberto Terceros Mendívil, Dr. Sócrates Barba Caballero, Victoria de Lazarte, Don Salomón Aponte, Mr. Dolavela, Lucio Parada +2.
Probable cause (official findings): The aircraft was not on the intended flight track when the accident occurred. A possible navigation error was committed by the crew who was hampered by the lack of visibility caused by poor weather conditions.