Hydraulic failure leads to runway excursion at Bogotá-El Dorado

No fatalities • Bogotá-El Dorado, Colombia • Landing (descent or approach)

A training flight involving five occupants resulted in an aircraft overrun at Bogotá-El Dorado Airport following a hydraulic system failure.

What happened

During an early morning training mission, a crew consisting of two instructors and three student pilots departed from Bogotá-El Dorado Airport, heading toward Flandes, Tolima. The flight involved performing several touch-and-go maneuvers at the Flandes airfield. During the final takeoff attempt from Flandes, the aircraft experienced a failure in its hydraulic system, which prevented the landing gear from retracting.

While returning to Bogotá-El Dorado, the crew encountered further complications as the loss of hydraulic pressure rendered the flaps inoperable. Consequently, the flight was forced to perform a flapless landing on runway 12. Upon reaching the runway, the aircraft could not decelerate sufficiently within the available pavement. The plane overran the end of the runway and eventually came to a stop in a nearby drainage ditch. Although the aircraft sustained damage beyond repair, all five occupants managed to exit the wreckage without any injuries.

Findings

Investigations into the incident revealed that a broken pressure line located within the right landing gear well led to a significant leak of hydraulic fluid. This loss of fluid was the primary reason for the failure of both the landing gear retraction mechanism and the effectiveness of the braking system.

Probable cause

A ruptured pressure line in the right landing gear well caused a hydraulic fluid leak, resulting in the loss of gear retraction capability and braking performance.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1974-01-05 Lockheed 18 LodeStar accident near Bogotá-El Dorado, Colombia?

A training flight involving five occupants resulted in an aircraft overrun at Bogotá-El Dorado Airport following a hydraulic system failure.

Were there any fatalities in the 1974-01-05 Lockheed 18 LodeStar accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1974-01-05 involved a Lockheed 18 LodeStar, registration HK-1146, operated by Aeropesca Colombia, at Bogotá-El Dorado, Colombia.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

A ruptured pressure line in the right landing gear well caused a hydraulic fluid leak, resulting in the loss of gear retraction capability and braking performance.

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