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Landing Gear Retraction During Takeoff at Riohacha-Almirante Padilla Airport (N6924C)

Riohacha, ColombiaTakeoff (climb)

On October 15, 1978, a Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation (registration N6924C) operated by Skyways International was involved in an aviation accident near Riohacha, Colombia during takeoff. One person was killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Premature retraction of the landing gear during the takeoff roll, prior to liftoff. 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 2026-06-12Data APIEditorial standards

During a takeoff roll at Riohacha-Almirante Padilla Airport, the crew inadvertently retracted the landing gear before liftoff. The airplane sank on its belly and crashed in flames, killing the pilot and injuring two crew members.

Incident Overview During the takeoff roll at Riohacha-Almirante Padilla Airport, the crew inadvertently retracted the landing gear before the aircraft achieved liftoff. As a result, the airplane sank on its belly and crashed in flames. The accident resulted in the death of the pilot and injuries to two crew members. ## Probable Cause The official investigation determined that the probable cause was the premature retraction of the landing gear during the takeoff roll, prior to liftoff. No other factors were identified in the source material as contributing to the accident. ## Casualties The pilot was killed in the crash. Two additional crew members sustained injuries. The source does not provide further details regarding the severity of the injuries or the total number of persons on board.

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