Douglas DC3 accident near Puerto Gaitan, CO, April 7, 2016
On April 7, 2016 at about 12:00 pm local time, a Douglas DC3, registered HK2663, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Puerto Gaitan (Puerto Gaitan Airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under non-U.S. private rules. 3 people 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
- April 7, 2016 · about 12:00 pm local time
- Place
- Puerto Gaitan, Colombia · Puerto Gaitan Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Douglas DC3 C · all DC3s on the register
- Registration
- HK2663 · no longer on the register · serial 42-12352
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · non-U.S. private rules
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On April 7, 2016, about 1200 coordinated universal time, a Douglas DC3-C, Colombian registration HK2663, was destroyed during a postimpact fire, following a forced landing to a field due to a loss of power on the left engine during initial climb from Puerto Gaitan Airport (SKPG), Puerto Gaitan, Colombia. The two pilots and one crewmember incurred minor injuries. The planned flight to Vanguardia Airport (SKVV), Villavicencio, Colombia was conducted under Colombian flight regulations. According to preliminary information from the Government of Colombia, the pilots reported that the airplane experienced a failure of the left engine during initial climb. They subsequently performed a forced landing to a field. During the landing, a postimpact fire ensued; however, the pilots and technician were able to evacuate the airplane before it was consumed by the fire. The investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Government of Colombia. Further information can be obtained from: Grupo Investigación de Accidentes Unidad Administrativa Especial de Aeronáutica Civil Av. Eldorado 103-23 Bogota, Colombia Telephone: (57-1) 296-2138 (57-1) 296-2013 This report is for informational purposes only, and contains only information released by the Government of Colombia.
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 initial climb defining event
Pilot
- Injury: minor injuries
Co-pilot
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Pratt & Whitney R-1830-42 (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Pratt & Whitney R-1830-42 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: SKPG Puerto Gaitan at 12:00 pm
- Destination: SKVV Villavicencio
- Flight plan: not recorded
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 3 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
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.