Piper PA-32-300 accident near Macas, Ec, August 30, 2013
On August 30, 2013 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-32-300, registered HCBOD, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern base) near Macas (Edmundo Carvajal airport). It was flown under non-U.S. commercial rules. 7 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 30, 2013 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Macas, Ecuador · Edmundo Carvajal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 7 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-300 · all PA-32-300s on the register
- Registration
- HCBOD · no longer on the register · serial 32-40531
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · non-U.S. commercial rules
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On August 30, 2013, about 1630 coordinated universal time (1130 local time), a Piper PA-32-300, Ecuadorian registration HC-BOD, was substantially damaged during a forced landing while approaching Edmundo Carvajal Airport (SEMC), Macas, Ecuador. The Ecuadorian commercial pilot was seriously injured, and of the seven passengers (including one lap child), six were seriously injured and one sustained minor injuries. The airplane, which was en route from an airstrip in Wachirpas, Ecuador, was operating under Ecuadorian flight regulations. The investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Government of Ecuador. Further information can be obtained from: Dirección General de Aviación Civil Junta Investigadora de Accidentes de la República del Ecuador Avenida Colón E5-56 y La Rábida Edificio Ave María Torre Sur Quito, República del Ecuador Tel: 593-02-223-8981 www.dgac.gov.ec This report is for informational purposes, and only contains information released by the government of Ecuador.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (total) during approach (VFR pattern base) defining event
Crew member
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540 Serie (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Wachirpas
- Destination: SEMC Macas
- Flight plan: not recorded
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 6 | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under HCBOD the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.