Florencia-Gustavo Artunduaga Paredes | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The twin engine aircraft departed Araracuara Airport runway 09 at 1503LT on a charter flight to Florencia, carrying eight passengers and two pilots. During initial climb, the right engine failed. The crew lost control of the airplane that stalled and crashed in a wooded area. The wreckage was found 8,2 km from the airport. The airplane disintegrated on impact and all 10 occupants were killed, among them a Swiss citizen.

Probable cause:

Loss of control during initial climb following the failure of the right engine for undetermined reasons.
The following contributing factors were identified:
- The crew failed to follow the published procedures when the right engine failed,
- The aircraft was likely operated with a total weight above MTOW,
- A poor risk assessment while performing an operation outside of the aircraft's performance limits.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan in El Para: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 13, 2003 at 0843 LT

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 208B Grand Caravan

Operator:

One Leasing

Registration:

N1116G

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Bogotá - Florencia

MSN:

208B-0402

YOM:

1994

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The single engine aircraft was completing a survey flight over the Florencia area on behalf of the US Government, carrying four US citizens and one Colombian taking part to an anti-narcotic program. Eight minutes prior to its arrival in Floriencia, while cruising at an altitude of 5,000 feet, the aircraft suffered an engine failure. The crew attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft crashed on the slope of a mountain located near El Para, bursting into flames. All five occupants survived the accident but when FARC soldiers arrived on the scene, they shot down both pilots and captured all three other occupants. The bodies of both pilots were repatriated to the US few days later while the three hostages were released more than five years later in July 2008.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the engine failed after the turbine overheated in flight.

Crash of a Douglas DC-9-14 in Neiva

Date & Time: Jun 14, 2002 at 1815 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-9

Operator:

Registration:

HK-3859X

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Bogotá – Florencia – Neiva

MSN:

45843

YOM:

1966

Flight number:

RS8883

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

5590

Captain / Total hours on type:

442.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

804

Copilot / Total hours on type:

461

Aircraft flight hours:

73906

Circumstances:

Following an uneventful flight from Florencia, the crew was cleared to descend to Neiva-Benito Salas Airport. On approach, the aircraft was unstable and after the GPWS alarm sounded, the captain increased power and gained altitude, causing the aircraft to climb over the glide. The approach was continued and the airplane passed over the threshold at a height of 140 feet and eventually landed 1,700 feet past the runway threshold at intersection Bravo (the runway is 5,249 feet long). After touchdown, the crew started the braking procedure but two tyres burst and the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran and came to rest in a grassy area. All 71 occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

The energy accumulated in the set of tires deflated the tire n°2, reducing the braking effectiveness by 50% due to the loss of the antiskid of that set in the same proportion, and subsequently the loss of 100% of the effectiveness of braking when tires n°3 and 4 burst successively, causing the aircraft to exceed the remaining runway length leading to the accident situation.
The following contributing factors were identified:
- The increase in speed of the VRF by the crew that increased the landing length,
- An unstabilized approach completed by the the crew,
- The pressure exerted on the crew due to the public order situation in the city of Florence for the purpose of a possible overnight stay of the aircraft and consequently the crew.

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-25-DK in Florencia: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 20, 1993

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Trans Aereos Cochabamba

Registration:

CP-1622

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

13336

YOM:

1944

Location:

Florencia-Gustavo Artunduaga Paredes

Caquetá

Country:

Colombia

Region:

South America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Florencia-Gustavo Artunduaga Paredes Airport, while in initial climb, the left engine failed. The aircraft lost height and crashed near the runway end, killing both pilots.

Probable cause:

Failure of the left engine shortly after rotation for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Vickers 745D Viscount near Florencia: 50 killed

Date & Time: Aug 27, 1981 at 1545 LT

Type of aircraft:

Vickers Viscount

Operator:

Registration:

HK-1320

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Florencia - Neiva

MSN:

112

YOM:

1956

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Few minutes after takeoff from Florencia-Gustavo Artunduaga Paredes Airport, while cruising in bad weather conditions, the four engine airplane struck the slope of Mt Santa Elena shrouded in clouds and located about 48 km north of Florencia. The wreckage was found few hours later. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 50 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the crew continued to fly under VFR mode in IMC conditions below the minimum safe altitude as published in the procedures.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 in Puerto Asís: 5 killed

Date & Time: Apr 2, 1976

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

FAC-676

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Florencia - Puerto Asís

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On approach to Puerto Asís Airport, the crew encountered heavy rain falls when the airplane crashed into a lake located few km short of runway. A crew member and four passengers were killed while 11 other occupants were rescued.

Crash of an Avro 748-260-2A near Florencia: 32 killed

Date & Time: Jan 9, 1974 at 1640 LT

Type of aircraft:

Avro 748

Operator:

Registration:

FAC-1103

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Bucaramanga – Florencia – Bogotá

MSN:

1704

YOM:

1971

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Ten minutes after takeoff from Florencia-Gustavo Artunduaga Paredes Airport, while climbing in marginal weather conditions, the twin engine airplane struck the slope of Mt Gabinete (3,500 meters high) located about 34 km northwest of Florencia. The wreckage was found in a wooded 200 meters below the summit and all 32 occupants have been killed.