View source for Avianca Flight 03

{{short description|1966 aviation accident}}
{{expand Russian|topic=transport|otherarticle=Катастрофа C-54 в Картахене|date=January 2017}}{{Infobox Aircraft accident
| name            = Avianca Flight 03
| date            = January 14, 1966
| image           = Avianca Douglas DC-4 Volpati.jpg
| caption         = An Avianca Douglas C-54, similar to the one involved.
| Type            = [[CFIT]] due to false fire alarm and subsequent pilot error. <ref> https://web.archive.org/web/20130529013909/http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19660115-0</ref>
| occurrence_type = Accident
| Site            = Off [[Cartagena, Colombia]]
| Fatalities      = 56
| Aircraft Type   = [[Douglas C-54]]
| Origin          = [[Rafael Núñez International Airport|Cartagena-Crespo Airport]], [[Cartagena, Colombia|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 {{convert|100|ft|m|abbr=on}}, it [[Stall (aviation)|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.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19660114-2|title=ASN Aircraft accident Douglas C-54B-1-DO (DC-4) HK-730 Cartagena-Crespo Airport (CTG)|last=Ranter|first=Harro|website=aviation-safety.net|access-date=2017-01-09}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=RdweAAAAIBAJ&sjid=5GMEAAAAIBAJ&hl=es&pg=834,1736658|title=El Tiempo - Búsqueda en el archivo de Google Noticias|website=news.google.com|access-date=2017-01-09}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Final report by ICAO|url=http://aviation.mid.gov.kz/sites/default/files/pages/096_daydzhest_aviacionnyh_proisshestviy._no_18._tom_1_en_1.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208234007/http://aviation.mid.gov.kz/sites/default/files/pages/096_daydzhest_aviacionnyh_proisshestviy._no_18._tom_1_en_1.pdf|archive-date=December 8, 2015|access-date=November 20, 2021|pages=8–15}}</ref>

== Aircraft ==

The aircraft involved was a [[Douglas C-54 Skymaster|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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.aviacol.net/articulos-de-aviacion/articulos-historicos/los-douglas-dc-4-de-avianca/todas-las-paginas.html |title=Los Douglas DC-4 de Avianca |website=Aviacol |access-date=2017-01-13 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106192628/http://www.aviacol.net/articulos-de-aviacion/articulos-historicos/los-douglas-dc-4-de-avianca/todas-las-paginas.html |archivedate=2012-11-06 }}</ref>

== Sequence of events ==
At 20:50 on January 14, the aircraft was cleared for takeoff. The plane reached {{convert|70|ft|m|abbr=off|sp=us}} 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.<ref name=":0" />

==External links==
* {{ASN accident|id=19660114-2}}

== References ==
<references />
{{Portal bar|Colombia|Aviation|1960s}}
{{Aviation accidents and incidents in 1966}}
{{Aviation accidents and incidents in Colombia}}

[[Category:Avianca accidents and incidents]]
[[Category:1966 in Colombia]]
[[Category:Aviation accidents and incidents in Colombia]]
[[Category:Aviation accidents and incidents in 1966]]
[[Category:January 1966 in South America]]
[[Category:Accidents and incidents involving the Douglas DC-4]]

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