Curtiss C-46 Commando crash, Jul 9, 2000 (10 killed), Vil...
Curtiss C-46 Commando accident on July 9, 2000 near Villavicencio, Meta, Colombia with 10 fatalities. Cause: The captain's decision to turn back with...
- Date: July 9, 2000
- Aircraft: Curtiss C-46 Commando
- Location: Villavicencio, Meta, Colombia
- Fatalities: 10
- Phase of flight: Takeoff and climb
- Cause: The captain's decision to turn back with an uncontrolled engine fire, which caused loss of lift on one wing and loss of control. The aircraft was found not airworthy and the crew documentation was incomplete.
A Curtiss C-46 chartered to carry 17 passengers from Villavicencio to Mitu, though certified for 13, had a right engine catch fire shortly after takeoff. The extinguisher bottles were already empty, and the captain turned back toward the airport, stalling and crashing in flames about two minutes after takeoff. Both pilots and eight passengers were killed and nine other people were injured.