Medellín-José María Córdova (Rionegro)

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

Santa Cruz - Medellín

MSN:

E.2348

YOM:

1999

Flight number:

LMI2933

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

6692

Captain / Total hours on type:

3417.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

6923

Copilot / Total hours on type:

1474

Aircraft flight hours:

21640

Aircraft flight cycles:

19737

Circumstances:

The aircraft was performing a charter flight from Santa Cruz-Viru Viru to Medellín-José María Córdova (Rionegro) Airport, carrying members of the Chapecoense Real soccer team from Brazil who were traveling to Medellín to play against Atletico Nacional for a Copa Sudamericana game. The descent to Medellín was started by night and in good weather conditions when it seems that the encountered electrical problem. At 2156LT, while descending to FL155, the four engine aircraft hit tree tops and crashed in a wooded area located on the slope of a mountain located in the Cerro Gordo, near the city of La Ceja, about 17 km south from runway 01 threshold. The aircraft was totally destroyed upon impact but there was no fire. Six (two crew member and four passengers) were injured and evacuated while 71 other occupants were killed. According to first investigations, the crew encountered electrical problems and the aircraft may have suffered a fuel exhaustion. Due to the combination of several factors and findings that were detected during initial investigations, it was determined that the primary cause of the accident may have been a fuel exhaustion. The board of investigation was then in a process to determine the exact circumstances of the occurrence and to understand the course of events and the exact behavior and flight supervision (instruments, fuel jauges, flight preparation, operations, permission, ground assistance) on part of the flight crew and the operator. On December 2, the Civil Aviation Authority of Bolivia revoked with immediate effect the Air Operator Certificate of LAMIA. All flights have been suspended since.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the accident was the consequence of an inappropriate planning and execution of the flight, since the amount of fuel required to fly from the airport of destination to an alternate airport was not considered, nor was the amount of reserve fuel, nor the contingency fuel, nor the minimum landing fuel, quantities of fuel required by aeronautical regulations for the execution of the type of international flight that the aircraft CP-2339 was performing. The following factors were considered as contributing:
- Loss of situational awareness,
– Premature configuration of the aircraft for landing,
– Latent deficiencies,
– Lack of operational supervision and control of part of Operator,
– Organizational and operational deviation on the part of the Operator (non compliant to standard procedures).

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-8-71F in Miami

Date & Time: Feb 4, 2007 at 2255 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-8

Operator:

Registration:

HK-4277

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Cessna 208B Grand Caravan

Schedule:

Medellín – Miami

MSN:

45976/372

YOM:

1968

Flight number:

TPA724

Location:

Miami-Intl

Florida

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Following an uneventful cargo flight from Medellín-José María Córdova (Rionegro) Airport, the crew completed the approach and landing on runway 09R at Miami-Intl Airport. After touchdown, following a course of 100-120 metres, the crew activated the thrust reverser systems when the right main gear collapsed. The aircraft veered to the right and came to rest near the taxiway U. All three crew members evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Failure of the right main gear after landing due to improper torque of a landing gear lockbolt by the company maintenance personnel during landing gear installation.

Crash of a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan near Tolemaida AFB: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 22, 2006 at 0720 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

FAC-5054

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Medellín - Tolemaida AFB

MSN:

208B-0285

YOM:

1991

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The single engine aircraft was on a routine flight from Medellín to Tolemaida AFB with 3 crew members on board. On approach in poor visibility (mist), the aircraft struck the slope of Mt La Siberia located few km from the airbase and was destroyed. All three occupants were killed.

Crash of a Boeing 747-200 in Medellin

Date & Time: Jun 7, 2006 at 0702 LT

Type of aircraft:

Boeing 747-200

Operator:

Registration:

N922FT

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Medellín-José María Córdova (Rionegro)

Schedule:

Medellín - Miami

MSN:

22768

YOM:

1982

Flight number:

TDX444

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

8000

Captain / Total hours on type:

830.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

13000

Copilot / Total hours on type:

152

Aircraft flight hours:

78767

Circumstances:

The takeoff from Medellín-José María Córdova Airport runway 36 was initiated in rain falls. During the takeoff roll, the Engine Gas Temperature warning light came on, informing the crew about EGT problems on engines n°1 and 4. In the same time, the engine n°1 encountered technical problems. The captain decided to abort the takeoff procedure and started an emergency braking manoeuvre despite the aircraft' speed was 12 knots above the V1 speed. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overran, lost its nose gear and came to rest about 150 metres further. All five crew members evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

The decision of the crew to abandon the takeoff procedure at a speed that was 12 knots above the V1 speed on a wet runway surface, following an EGT warning on engines n°1 and 4. The following contributing factors were identified:
- Failure of the crew to take into consideration the wet runway factor in the takeoff performances calculation,
- Absence of a flight dispatcher properly certified and qualified for the equipment,
- Failure of the engine number n°1 for undetermined reasons.

Final Report:

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:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Medellín-Enrique Olaya Herrera

Schedule:

Villavicencio - Medellín

MSN:

17064/34331

YOM:

1945

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

21490

Captain / Total hours on type:

370.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

305

Copilot / Total hours on type:

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 an Antonov AN-32B in Medellín: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 22, 1998 at 0014 LT

Type of aircraft:

Antonov AN-32

Operator:

Registration:

HK-3930X

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Medellín-José María Córdova (Rionegro)

Schedule:

Bogotá – Medellín

MSN:

3309

YOM:

1993

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

5554

Captain / Total hours on type:

1100.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

2017

Copilot / Total hours on type:

1000

Aircraft flight hours:

3106

Circumstances:

The aircraft departed Bogotá-El Dorado Airport on a cargo flight to Medellín, carrying two passengers, three crew members and a load of newspapers. On approach to Medellín-José María Córdova Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and reduced visibility due to thick fog. On short final, the aircraft was too low, struck trees and crashed one km short of runway 36. The aircraft was totally destroyed upon impact and all five occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain after the crew decided to continue the approach in below minima weather conditions due to thick fog until the aircraft impacted terrain. The crew failed to initiate a go-around procedure to divert to a suitable terrain.

Final Report:

Crash of an Antonov AN-32B in Medellín: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 21, 1996 at 2232 LT

Type of aircraft:

Antonov AN-32

Operator:

Registration:

HK-4008X

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Medellín-José María Córdova (Rionegro)

Schedule:

Bogotá – Medellín

MSN:

3402

YOM:

1993

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

8635

Captain / Total hours on type:

550.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

1409

Copilot / Total hours on type:

Aircraft flight hours:

403

Circumstances:

The aircraft was completing a cargo flight from Bogotá to Medellín, carrying one passenger, three crew members and a load of 18,300 newspapers for a total weight of 4,970 kilos. While descending to Medellín-Rionegro Airport, the crew encountered difficulties to intercept the ILS and made successives left and right turn when, on final approach, the aircraft went out of control and crashed 8 km short of runway 36. All four occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Loss of control following the in-flight fracture of the right wing that induced the rupture of the left stabilizer exceeding the ultimate resistance of the structure. The exact cause of the structural failure could not be determined.

Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing 727-46 on Mt Páramo Frontino: 132 killed

Date & Time: May 19, 1993 at 1506 LT

Type of aircraft:

Boeing 727-100

Operator:

Registration:

HK-2422X

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Panama City – Medellín – Bogotá

MSN:

18876

YOM:

1965

Flight number:

MM501

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

125

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

132

Circumstances:

On the leg from Panama City to Medellín, the crew was approaching the Abejorral NDB at an altitude of 16,000 feet and was cleared to descend to FL120. Few minutes later, while descending to the altitude of 12,300 feet in poor weather conditions, the three engine aircraft struck the slope of Mt Páramo Frontino located about 85 km northwest of Medellín-José María Córdova Airport. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 132 occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, the visibility was poor due to clouds, mist and rain.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the accident was the consequence of a controlled flight into terrain after the crew mistakenly initiated the descent prematurely, causing the aircraft to descend below the minimum prescribed altitude. It was established that the crew reported to be over the Abejorral NDB while in fact, the aircraft did not reach already this beacon. Thunderstorm activity probably influenced some instruments and the RNG VOR was out of service since few month following a terrorist attack.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46F-1-CU Commando near Bogotá: 8 killed

Date & Time: Dec 11, 1991 at 1520 LT

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

HK-2716

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Ferry

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Medellín – Bogotá

MSN:

22478

YOM:

1945

Location:

Bogotá-El Dorado

Bogotá Capital District

Country:

Region: