1976 Lloyd Aéreo Boliviano Boeing 707 crash
 | This article, 1976 Lloyd Aéreo Boliviano Boeing 707 crash, has recently been created via the Articles for creation process. Please check to see if the reviewer has accidentally left this template after accepting the draft and take appropriate action as necessary.
Reviewer tools: Inform author |
| This article, 1976 Lloyd Aéreo Boliviano Boeing 707 crash, has recently been created via the Articles for creation process. Please check to see if the reviewer has accidentally left this template after accepting the draft and take appropriate action as necessary.
Reviewer tools: Inform author |
 N730JP, the aircraft involved in the crash | |
| Accident | |
|---|---|
| Date | 16 October 1976 |
| Summary | Engine failure after takeoff |
| Site | El Trompillo Airport, Santa Cruz, Bolivia |
| Total fatalities | 91 (88 ground fatalities) |
| Aircraft | |
| Aircraft type | Boeing 707-131F |
| Operator | Lloyd Aéreo Boliviano (LAB) |
| Registration | N730JP |
| Occupants | 3 |
| Passengers | 0 |
| Crew | 3 |
| Fatalities | 3 |
| Survivors | 0 |
| Ground casualties | |
| Ground fatalities | 88 |
On October 16th, 1976, a Boeing 707-131F operated by Lloyd Aéreo Boliviano crashed seconds after takeoff at El Trompillo Airport into a residential neighborhood. All three people on board were killed, along with 88 other fatalities on the ground, bringing the total up to 91. It is the deadliest air disaster to happen on Bolivian soil to present.[1]
Background
Lloyd Aéreo Boliviano, also known as LAB, was the flag carrier of Bolivia. It was founded in 1925, and it has been existing for 51 years at the time of the accident. The aircraft, a 17 year old Boeing 707, was originally delivered to Trans World Airlines on 14 July 1959. In 1971, it was pulled out of TWA service and then went through a 5-year period of constant leasing and returning, with some of the airlines being Ryan International Airlines and Air India. In October 1976, the aircraft was bought by LAB, and was put into charter service.[2]
Accident
On October 16, 1976, the Boeing 707 was scheduled for take-off at El Trompillo. The captain was Charles Baldwin, the first officer was Lee Marsh, and the flight engineer was Leslie Bennett. The plane struggled to get airborne, taking off close to the end of the runway. According to eyewitness accounts, there was an explosion and a fire in one of the left engines before the plane came crashed. It went through a busy street, then it crashed into a school and a baseball stadium. Over 90 people were killed, while over 20 were injured. According to a government spokesman, half or more of the fatalities were children because the plane crashed into a school.[3]
Cause
The most likely cause, according to the witnesses, is that an engine failed during takeoff, which meant that the aircraft had insufficient thrust to stay airborne.[3]
See Also
References
- ^ "1976: Bolivian plane crashes in Santa Cruz". bbc.co.uk.
- ^ "N730JP-Boeing 707 - 131 - 17661 - JetPhotos". jetphotos.com.
- ^ a b "OldJets spotted". oldjets.net.