No fatalities

Emergency landing following engine failure near Cerro Colorado (CP-1788)

Bolivia, BoliviaFlight

On May 22, 1984, a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo (registration CP-1788) operated by Private Bolivia was involved in an aviation accident near Bolivia, Bolivia in flight. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The accident was caused by an engine failure and subsequent overheat that led to an explosion and fire during the emergency landing. 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 2026-06-11Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft traveling from Santa Cruz to Cerro Colorado was forced to perform an emergency landing after experiencing partial engine failure and rising temperatures.

What happened

During a flight departing from Santa Cruz with the intention of reaching Cerro Colorado, the aircraft experienced a mechanical malfunction involving one of its engines. The engine suffered a partial loss of power accompanied by a significant rise in operating temperature. In response to this developing situation, the pilot initiated an emergency descent to perform a landing.

Upon impact, an explosion occurred within the engine compartment, which subsequently ignited a fire. This post-crash fire resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft. Despite the severity of the impact and the following fire, all eight occupants successfully evacuated the wreckage. The individuals involved sustained only minor injuries during the event.

Findings

  • An engine malfunction characterized by partial failure and overheating.
  • An engine explosion triggered a post-crash fire that consumed the airframe.

Probable cause

The accident was caused by an engine failure and subsequent overheat that led to an explosion and fire during the emergency landing.