Narrative:
A Boeing 707-131F cargo plane crashed during takeoff from Santa Cruz-El Trompillo Airport in Bolivia, killing all three crew members and 88 persons on the ground. A further 78 people were seriously injured.
The aircraft operated on a round trip from Miami, Florida, USA to Santa Cruz. It had delivered livestock to Santa Cruz and was departing back to Miami.
The take-off run was seen to be longer than usual and the aircraft crossed end of runway 32 at a height of about 6 meters. It struck trees, poles and the roofs of houses while rolling to the left and finally struck the ground inverted some 560 m beyond the runway. The aircraft impacted on a football pitch, bursting into flames.
Analysis of the accident was hampered by unserviceable flight recorders. The Flight Data Recorder (FDR) was not in operation at the time of the accident; when the cassette was opened the entire tape was found to be wound round the receiving reel. The three radio channels of the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) contained some information but the cockpit area microphone channel was inoperative and the recording did not contain useful information.
The enquiry rules out structural and engine failure, flight control malfunction and systems failures as possible causes of the accident. The engine-pressure ratio (EPR) gauges showed 2.32, corresponding to the setting for a take-off with dry thrust.
On Boeing 707-100 aircraft equipped with Pratt & Whitney JT3C engines, de-mineralized water could be injected during takeoff to increase thrust. It was found that the water valves were open at the time of impact but it was not determined with certainty whether the crew attempted to perform a dry take-off but with reserve water, or whether the water was used with EPRs limited to 2.32 with the possibility of increasing the thrust when and as necessary.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The failure of the crew to select enough thrust to achieve the necessary acceleration. A principal contributory factor was crew fatigue."
Loss of control
accident date: 13-10-1976
type: Boeing 707-131F
registration: N730JP
| Status: | |
| Date: | Wednesday 13 October 1976 |
| Time: | 13:32 EDT |
| Type: |  Boeing 707-131F |
| Operating for: | Lloyd Aéreo Boliviano - LAB |
| Leased from: | Jet Power |
| Registration: | N730JP |
| MSN: | 17671/48 |
| First flight: | 1959 |
| Engines: | 4 Pratt & Whitney JT3C- |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 3 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 3 |
| Ground casualties: | Fatalities: 88 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Aircraft fate: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | 0,6 km (0.4 mls) NW of Santa Cruz-El Trompillo Airport (SRZ) ( Bolivia)
|
| Phase: | Initial climb (ICL) |
| Nature: | Cargo |
| Departure airport: | Santa Cruz-El Trompillo Airport (SRZ/SLET), Bolivia |
| Miami International Airport, FL (MIA/KMIA), United States of America |
A Boeing 707-131F cargo plane crashed during takeoff from Santa Cruz-El Trompillo Airport in Bolivia, killing all three crew members and 88 persons on the ground. A further 78 people were seriously injured.
The aircraft operated on a round trip from Miami, Florida, USA to Santa Cruz. It had delivered livestock to Santa Cruz and was departing back to Miami.
The take-off run was seen to be longer than usual and the aircraft crossed end of runway 32 at a height of about 6 meters. It struck trees, poles and the roofs of houses while rolling to the left and finally struck the ground inverted some 560 m beyond the runway. The aircraft impacted on a football pitch, bursting into flames.
Analysis of the accident was hampered by unserviceable flight recorders. The Flight Data Recorder (FDR) was not in operation at the time of the accident; when the cassette was opened the entire tape was found to be wound round the receiving reel. The three radio channels of the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) contained some information but the cockpit area microphone channel was inoperative and the recording did not contain useful information.
The enquiry rules out structural and engine failure, flight control malfunction and systems failures as possible causes of the accident. The engine-pressure ratio (EPR) gauges showed 2.32, corresponding to the setting for a take-off with dry thrust.
On Boeing 707-100 aircraft equipped with Pratt & Whitney JT3C engines, de-mineralized water could be injected during takeoff to increase thrust. It was found that the water valves were open at the time of impact but it was not determined with certainty whether the crew attempted to perform a dry take-off but with reserve water, or whether the water was used with EPRs limited to 2.32 with the possibility of increasing the thrust when and as necessary.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The failure of the crew to select enough thrust to achieve the necessary acceleration. A principal contributory factor was crew fatigue."
Classification:
Insufficient rest / fatigueLoss of control
Photos
accident date: 13-10-1976
type: Boeing 707-131F
registration: N730JP
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 Santa Cruz-El Trompillo Airport to Miami International Airport, FL as the crow flies is 5171 km (3232 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
Distance from Santa Cruz-El Trompillo Airport to Miami International Airport, FL as the crow flies is 5171 km (3232 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
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: 
Bolivia
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Boeing 707
- 858 built
- 56th loss
- 40th fatal accident
- 13th worst accident (at the time)
- 16th worst accident (currently)
Bolivia- The worst accident
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