46 Years ago today: On 15 August 1976 a SAETA Vickers 785D Viscount went missing with 59 people on board on a flight from Quito to Cuenca, Ecuador.
| Date: | Sunday 15 August 1976 |
| Time: | ca 08:35 |
| Type: | Vickers 785D Viscount |
| Operator: | SAETA |
| Registration: | HC-ARS |
| MSN: | 377 |
| First flight: | 1958 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 4 / Occupants: 4 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 55 / Occupants: 55 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 59 / Occupants: 59 |
| Aircraft damage: | Damaged beyond repair |
| Location: | Chimborazo Volcano ( |
| Phase: | En route (ENR) |
| Nature: | Domestic Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Quito-Mariscal Sucre Airport (UIO/SEQU), Ecuador |
| Destination airport: | Cuenca Airport (CUE/SECU), Ecuador |
| Flightnumber: | 232 |
Narrative:
A Vickers 785D Viscount, operated by SAETA, was destroyed when it impacted the side of a volcano in Ecuador. All 59 on board were killed.
Flight 232 departed Quito-Mariscal Sucre Airport, Ecuador at 08:06 hours on a domestic service to Cuenca Airport. Last radio contact with the flight was at 08:27 when the crew reported over Ambato at 18000 feet.
The aircraft failed to arrive at Cuenca. Despite an intesive search operation, the wreckage was not found.
However, on October 17, 2002 climbers attempting to reach the top of the 20,700-foot Chimborazo Volcano, came across aircraft debris. Further investigation by officials in February 2003 confirmed that the wreckage was indeed SAETA flight 232.
