Narrative:
LACSA Flight 503 departed Miami at 13:45 GMT for a flight to Barranquilla, Medellin and Bogotá. The flight left Medellin at 22:58 for the last leg of the flight. Cruising altitude was FL135. After contacting Bogotá control tower at 00:03, the crew received the following information: "runway 12, wind calm, altimeter 30.33, restriction owing to aircraft accident in the safety zone near taxiway B". A long downwind leg was flown because another aircraft was taxiing along the main runway toward the apron. On finals the aircraft crashed.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The pilot failed to take proper action to counteract the loss of speed and height in the final approach turn.
Contributing factors: 1) Lack of operational control by the airlines concerned. 2) The pilot in command lacked experience as a transport pilot. 3) It is probable that the report from the control tower at Eldorado that the runway was restricted because another aircraft had crashed in the safety zone had a psychological effect on the pilot."
| Status: | |
| Date: | Tuesday 19 April 1960 |
| Time: | 00:08 UTC |
| Type: |  Curtiss C-46D-10-CU Commando |
| Operator: | Lloyd Aéreo Colombiano |
| Registration: | HK-390 |
| MSN: | 32954 |
| First flight: | 1944 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 8289 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 6 / Occupants: 7 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 31 / Occupants: 44 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 37 / Occupants: 51 |
| Aircraft damage: | Damaged beyond repair |
| Location: | Bogotá-Eldorado Airport (BOG) ( Colombia)
|
| Phase: | Approach (APR) |
| Nature: | Domestic Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Medellín-Enrique Olaya Herrera Airport (EOH/SKMD), Colombia |
| Bogotá-Eldorado Airport (BOG/SKBO), Colombia | |
| Flightnumber: | 503 |
LACSA Flight 503 departed Miami at 13:45 GMT for a flight to Barranquilla, Medellin and Bogotá. The flight left Medellin at 22:58 for the last leg of the flight. Cruising altitude was FL135. After contacting Bogotá control tower at 00:03, the crew received the following information: "runway 12, wind calm, altimeter 30.33, restriction owing to aircraft accident in the safety zone near taxiway B". A long downwind leg was flown because another aircraft was taxiing along the main runway toward the apron. On finals the aircraft crashed.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The pilot failed to take proper action to counteract the loss of speed and height in the final approach turn.
Contributing factors: 1) Lack of operational control by the airlines concerned. 2) The pilot in command lacked experience as a transport pilot. 3) It is probable that the report from the control tower at Eldorado that the runway was restricted because another aircraft had crashed in the safety zone had a psychological effect on the pilot."
Photos
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Medellín-Enrique Olaya Herrera Airport to Bogotá-Eldorado Airport as the crow flies is 231 km (145 miles).
Distance from Medellín-Enrique Olaya Herrera Airport to Bogotá-Eldorado Airport as the crow flies is 231 km (145 miles).
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
languages: 
Colombia
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Curtiss C-46
- 3341 built
- 861st loss
- 207th fatal accident
- 13th worst accident (at the time)
- 16th worst accident (currently)
Colombia- 3rd worst accident (at the time)
- 20th worst accident (currently)
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