| Avianca Flight 03 | |
| Date: | January 14, 1966 |
| Type: | Crashed due to stall; cause undetermined |
| Occurrence Type: | Accident |
| Site: | Off Cartagena, Colombia |
| Fatalities: | 56 |
| Aircraft Type: | Douglas C-54 |
| Origin: | Cartagena-Crespo Airport, Cartagena, Colombia |
| Destination: | El Dorado International Airport, Bogotá, Colombia |
| Operator: | Avianca |
| Tail Number: | HK-730 |
| Passengers: | 60 |
| Crew: | 4 |
| Survivors: | 8 |
Avianca Flight 03 was a passenger flight from Cartagena, Colombia to Bogotá, Colombia that crashed on January 14, 1966. After takeoff, as the aircraft reached 100feet, it stalled and crashed into shallow water. After a 14-month investigation, engine failure was found to be a possible, but unproven, cause. Poor maintenance and inadequate inspections were also suspected.[1] [2] [3]
The aircraft involved was a Douglas C-54, the military version of the Douglas DC-4 produced during World War II, registered HK-730 to Avianca. The aircraft involved was produced in 1944; because of military needs, it was equipped with larger fuel tanks, which allowed for intercontinental passenger flights.[4]
At 20:50 on January 14, the aircraft was cleared for takeoff. The plane reached 70abbr=offNaNabbr=off after rotation, but then began to descend. It then crashed into the sea 1,300 meters from the airport runway. Out of the 64 people aboard, only 8 survived.