Incident Overview

Date: Sunday 9 July 2000
Aircraft Type: Curtiss C-46A-60-CS Commando
Owner/operator: R.M. Marmolejo
Registration Number: HK-851P
Location: 3 km E of Villavicencio-La Vanguardia Airport (VVC) – ÿ Colombia
Phase of Flight: Initial climb
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 10 / Occupants: 19
Component Affected: C-46 HK-851P engine (specifically the No.2 engine)C-46 HK-851P engine (specifically the No.2 engine)
Investigating Agency: AerocivilAerocivil
Category: Accident
On March 1, 2023, a C-46 HK-851P, owned and operated by a private individual, experienced a catastrophic accident during a non-scheduled cargo/passenger flight from Villavicencio (VVC) to Mit£ (MVP). The flight was planned to follow Airway W-17 at 9000 feet, carrying six persons ? two pilots and seventeen passengers. Shortly after takeoff, the right-hand engine (no. 2) ignited, extinguishing bottles were empty, and the pilot initiated a right-hand turn to return to the airport. This resulted in loss of control, leading to a crash.On March 1, 2023, a C-46 HK-851P, owned and operated by a private individual, experienced a catastrophic accident during a non-scheduled cargo/passenger flight from Villavicencio (VVC) to Mit£ (MVP). The flight was planned to follow Airway W-17 at 9000 feet, carrying six persons ? two pilots and seventeen passengers. Shortly after takeoff, the right-hand engine (no. 2) ignited, extinguishing bottles were empty, and the pilot initiated a right-hand turn to return to the airport. This resulted in loss of control, leading to a crash.

Description

The C-46 HK-851P was owned and operated by a private individual. It was certified to carry a maximum of 13 occupants. It was prepared for a non-scheduled cargo/passenger flight from Villavicencio (VVC) to Mit£ (MVP). The flight plan indicated that the flight was to follow Airway W-17 at 9000 feet to Mit£ and that there were six persons on board. In fact the airplane carried the two pilots and seventeen passengers. The C-46 took off at 08:23. Shortly after takeoff the right-hand (no. 2) engine caught fire. Because the fire extinguishing bottles of the engines were empty, the fire could not be extinguished. The pilot attempted to return to the airport by executing a right hand turn. The crew consequently lost control and the airplane crashed. The investigation into the cause of the accident revealed that the airplane was not in an airworthy condition. Flight experience of both pilots was not logged and the captain and owner of the plane did not have a valid medical certificate. CAUSA PROBABLE: “Decisi¢n y operaci¢n inapropiadas del piloto al efectuar regreso con viraje a la derecha por incendio incontrolado en el motor No 2 induciendo un a perdida de sustentaci¢n sobre el ala del mismo lado que hizo perder e control sobre la aeronave al piloto a los controles.” PROBABLE CAUSE: The decision and inappropriate operation of the pilot to return with a right hand turn with an uncontrolled fire in the No.2 engine leading to a loss of lift on the wing on that side and a loss of control over the aircraft. (translation from Spanish; the Spanish version is the original)

Primary Cause

The pilot’s inappropriate return with a right-hand turn due to an uncontrolled fire in the No.2 engine, resulting in loss of lift and control.The pilot’s inappropriate return with a right-hand turn due to an uncontrolled fire in the No.2 engine, resulting in loss of lift and control.

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