Zone
Antioquia

Crash of a Douglas DC-3C in Medellín: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 15, 2004 at 0750 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
HK-1503
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Villavicencio - Medellín
MSN:
17064/34331
YOM:
1945
Location:
Medellín-Enrique Olaya Herrera
Antioquia
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
21490
Captain / Total hours on type:
370.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
305
Copilot / Total hours on type:
91
Aircraft flight hours:
27592
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Villavicencio on a cargo flight to Medellin-José María Córdova Airport with one passenger and two pilots on board. While descending to Medellín, the crew was informed about the poor weather conditions at destination (poor visibility due to fog) and decided to divert to Medellín-Enrique Olaya Herrera Airport. On final approach, the aircraft descended too low when it struck a mountain located 13 km short of runway. The aircraft was destroyed and all three occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain after the crew took the decision to continue the approach under VFR mode in IMC conditions until the aircraft impacted terrain. Poor CRM and lack of situational awareness were considered as contributing factors.
Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo near Urabá: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 12, 2003 at 1930 LT
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-310 Navajo
Operator:
Registration:
XB-BAQ
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Medellín – Panama City
Location:
Urabá
Antioquia
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
While cruising under VFR mode by night and marginal weather conditions, the twin engine struck the slope of a mountain located near Urabá. The aircraft left the airport of Medellín-Enrique Olaya Herrera at 1700LT with a Mexican pilot and a Colombian passenger on board bound for Panama City. The aircraft was destroyed and both occupants were killed.

Crash of an Antonov AN-32A in Popayán: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 19, 2002 at 0853 LT
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-32
Operator:
Registration:
HK-4171X
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Popayán – Medellín
MSN:
2508
YOM:
1991
Location:
Popayán-Guillermo León Valencia
Cauca
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
9798
Captain / Total hours on type:
1548.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1069
Copilot / Total hours on type:
855
Aircraft flight hours:
3153
Circumstances:
The aircraft was chartered to transfer groups of prisoners from Medellín to Popayán on behalf of the National Penitentiary and Prison Institute. Fifty prisoners just disembarked at Popayán Airport when the crew departed on a ferry flight to Medellín for a second similar rotation. Popayán Airport is located at an altitude of 1,733 metres and its runway is 1,906 metres long. For unknown reasons, the crew decided to start the takeoff procedure from the intersection, reducing the available takeoff distance to 910 metres. Also, the flaps were deployed to an angle of 25° instead of 15° and the engine power was set at 95% instead of 100% as stipulated in the company procedures for airport located above the altitude of 1,400 metres. During the takeoff roll, at a distance of 150 metres from the runway end, the pilot realized he could not make it so he rejected the takeoff procedure and started an emergency braking manoeuvre. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overran, struck trees and came to rest, broken in two. Three passengers were killed while five other occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
Improper execution by the crew by not following the procedures, instructions and manuals of the aircraft manufacturer and approved to the SELVA company by the UAEAC, specifically when attempting to perform a takeoff in a wrong configuration, with a reduced power setting and an insufficient runway length for the execution of the procedure.
Final Report:

Crash of a Let L-410UVP-E near Medellín: 16 killed

Date & Time: Dec 16, 2001 at 1025 LT
Type of aircraft:
Let L-410
Operator:
Heliandes
Registration:
HK-4175X
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Medellín – Quibdó
MSN:
86 16 18
YOM:
1986
Location:
Medellín
Antioquia
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
16
Captain / Total flying hours:
10482
Captain / Total hours on type:
2340.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
250
Copilot / Total hours on type:
42
Aircraft flight hours:
1863
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Medellín-Enrique Olaya Herrera Airport runway 01, the crew initiated a turn to the right and continued to climb. In poor visibility due to clouds, at an altitude of 9,200 feet, the twin engine aircraft struck the slope of Mt El Silencio near San Antonio de Prado. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all 16 occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, weather was poor with towering cumulus and rain falls.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain after the crew failed to comply with the departure route and the company standard operating procedures.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 500 Citation I near La Felisa: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 7, 1997 at 0934 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 500 Citation
Operator:
Aerotaxi del Oriente
Registration:
HK-3885
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Pereira - Medellín
MSN:
500-0135
YOM:
1973
Location:
La Felisa
Caldas
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
3048
Copilot / Total flying hours:
173
Aircraft flight hours:
6274
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Pereira-Matecaña Airport, while climbing, the copilot declared an emergency and reported problems. Shortly later, the aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed near La Felisa. The aircraft was destroyed and both pilots were killed.
Probable cause:
In-flight braking and subsequent separation of both wing tips due to positive wing loading imposed by the unqualified crew exceeding the structural limit stipulated by the manufacturer.
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 in Medellín: 14 killed

Date & Time: Nov 30, 1996 at 1032 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter
Operator:
Registration:
HK-2602
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Medellín – Bahía Solano – Quibdo
MSN:
746
YOM:
1981
Flight number:
VX148
Location:
Medellín-Enrique Olaya Herrera
Antioquia
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
13
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
14
Captain / Total flying hours:
4611
Captain / Total hours on type:
3311.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
2060
Copilot / Total hours on type:
733
Aircraft flight hours:
35696
Aircraft flight cycles:
48915
Circumstances:
After takeoff from runway 01 at Medellín-Enrique Olaya Herrera Airport, the aircraft encountered difficulties to gain sufficient height. About three minutes after liftoff, the aircraft struck the slope of Mt Padre Amaya located 8 km from the airport. The wreckage was found 30 metres below the summit. A passenger was found alive while 14 other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Failure of the crew in the flight technique applied during the take-off phase, by not evaluating the performance of the aircraft, considering the high weight in front of the obstacles to climb over on the ascent trajectory.
The following contributing factors were reported:
- Errors presented in the dispatch, since the weights were not totaled correctly, possibly due to errors in the handling of cargo and unaccompanied luggage.
- Attitude of complacency on the part of the crew, due to excellent meteorological conditions that caused an excess of confidence in the planning of the flight on the part of the crew.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-8-55 in Medellín

Date & Time: Oct 15, 1992
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-8
Operator:
Registration:
HK-3753X
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Miami – Medellín
MSN:
45765
YOM:
1966
Location:
Medellín-Enrique Olaya Herrera
Antioquia
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After touchdown at Medellín-Enrique Olaya Herrera Airport, the crew lost directional control and the airplane deviated to the left. Suspecting an asymmetrical thrust, the captain decided to deactivate the reverse thrust systems when the aircraft veered off runway, collided with runway lights, lost its nose gear and came to rest. All three crew members escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Loss of directional control upon landing for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain near Belalcázar: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 21, 1991
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain
Operator:
Registration:
HK-2813P
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Medellín – Bogotá
MSN:
31-8252024
YOM:
1982
Location:
Belalcázar
Caldas
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
En route from Medellín to Bogotá-Guaymaral Airport, the twin engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances in a mountains area located near Belalcázar. Both occupants were killed.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 on Mt El Plateado: 23 killed

Date & Time: Jan 23, 1985 at 1035 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter
Operator:
Registration:
HK-1910
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Quibdó – Medellín
MSN:
497
YOM:
1976
Flight number:
VX052
Location:
Mt El Plateado
Chocó
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
20
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
23
Circumstances:
En route from Quibdó to Medellín, the crew encountered marginal weather conditions with mist and intermittent rain falls. While cruising at an altitude of 11,500 feet, the aircraft struck the slope of Mt El Plateado located in the northeast part of the Chocó province, about 66 km northeast of Quibdó. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and all 23 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain after the crew decided to continue under VFR mode in IMC conditions.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-35-CU Commando in the Orteguaza River

Date & Time: Oct 21, 1981
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
HK-388
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Medellín - Barranquilla
MSN:
26796
YOM:
1944
Location:
Florencia
Caquetá
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Medellín-Enrique Olaya Herrera Airport on a cargo flight to Barranquilla-Soledad, carrying six passengers and three crew members. En route, the aircraft was hijacked by four people who wanted to be flown on a remote airstrip located in the Guajira Peninsula. Four to five tons of weapons were loaded on board the airplane that departed and flew to the region of Florencia. The crew was forced to land in the Orteguaza River, about 7 km east of Florencia. The airplane came to rest in shallow waters, all weapons were offloaded and the aircraft was abandoned. The crew were released by the hijackers on November 10, 1981.
Probable cause:
Forced landing in water after being hijacked.
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