Crash of a Douglas DC-3 in Finca La Bendición: 14 killed

Date & Time: Mar 9, 2019 at 1036 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HK-2494
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
San Jose del Guaviare – Villavicencio
MSN:
33105/16357
YOM:
1945
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
14
Captain / Total flying hours:
12710
Captain / Total hours on type:
7044.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
12710
Copilot / Total hours on type:
7044
Aircraft flight hours:
23000
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed San José del Guaviare on a charter flight to Villavicencio, carrying 11 passengers and three crew members. While cruising at an altitude of 8,500 feet in good weather conditions, the left engine failed due to an important fuel leak. The crew elected to secure the engine but was unable to feather the propeller. The airplane lost speed and height, and while attempting an emergency landing, the crew lost control of the airplane that stalled and crashed in a palm plantation, bursting into flames. The aircraft was totally destroyed by a post crash fire and all 14 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The investigation determined that the accident was caused by the following probable causes:
- Loss of control in-flight as a consequence of the decrease in minimum in-flight control speed and drag generated by the impossibility of performing the No. 1 engine propeller feathering in the face of engine failure.
- Malfunction of the lubrication system of engine No. 1, evident in the abundant oil leakage from the engine, in flight, and in the governor of the left propeller; although discrepancies were found in the maintenance of the propeller feathering pressure line, it was not possible to determine the origin of the oil leakage.
- Weaknesses in the aircraft Operator's operational procedures, lacking a standard that would facilitate a crew's decision making to act in the event of critical failures, in matters such as making an emergency landing on unprepared field or the selection of an alternate airfield.

Contributing Factors:
- Deficiencies in standard maintenance practices during repairs performed on the No. 1 engine's propeller propeller feathering oil pressure line.
- Non-compliance with an effective and reliable maintenance program, which did not verify the operating conditions of the aircraft components; it was not possible to determine compliance with the last 50-hour service, Phase A, to engine No. 1 according to the company's maintenance program, since there are no records of that service in the Flight Log.
- Inefficient safety management system of the Operator for not detecting errors in the maintenance processes and in the conduct and control of operations.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-3C in San Felipe

Date & Time: Jul 11, 2018 at 1220 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HK-3293
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Inírida – San Felipe
MSN:
9186
YOM:
1943
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
18000
Captain / Total hours on type:
16000.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
7784
Copilot / Total hours on type:
1715
Aircraft flight hours:
29170
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Inírida on a humanitarian flight to San Felipe, carrying nine passengers, three crew members and various goods and equipment dedicated to the victims of the recent floods. Following an uneventful flight, the crew landed on runway 18. After touchdown, the aircraft deviated to the left. It pivoted to the left, lost its left main gear and the left propeller and came to a halt on the runway edge. All 12 occupants were rescued, among them one passenger was slightly injured. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The accident was the consequence of a lateral runway excursion as a result of a loss of control on the ground caused by the loss of air pressure in the left main gear tire, as a result of the penetration of a FOD (metallic object) into the tire during the landing run. Poor risk management by the San Felipe Aerodrome operator (SKFP) and a lack of a runway FOD control program (SKFP) by the operator of the aerodrome was considered as contributing factors.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft C99 Airliner in Ibagué: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 2, 2018 at 1830 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PNC-0203
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Bogotá – Ibagué – Mariquita
MSN:
U-199
YOM:
1983
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew departed Bogotá on a training flight to Mariquita with an intermediate stop at Ibagué-Perales Airport. While on approach by night, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed in a field located few km from the airport, bursting into flames. The aircraft was totally destroyed by a post crash fire and all four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Maj Andrés Valbuena Cadena,
Lt Carlos Andrés León Caicedo,
Lt Juan Alcides Sosa Triana,
Sub John Wílfer Parra Solano.

Crash of a Cessna 402C in Bahía Solano

Date & Time: Dec 20, 2017 at 0955 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HK-4417
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bahía Solano – Quibdó
MSN:
402C-0020
YOM:
1979
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
2901
Captain / Total hours on type:
1050.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
675
Copilot / Total hours on type:
430
Aircraft flight hours:
9711
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft was departing Bahía Solano-José Celestino Mutis Airport on a flight to Quibdó, carrying seven passengers and two pilots. During the takeoff roll on runway 36, the airplane deviated to the right and veered off runway. While contacting soft ground, the right main gear collapsed. The aircraft rotated and came to rest in a grassy area about 5 metres to the right of the runway. All 9 occupants evacuated safely and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
A loss of control during the takeoff roll as a result of inappropriate techniques on the part of the pilot-in-command who suffered a loss of situational awareness by not detecting the deviation in a timely manner.
The following contributing factors were identified:
- Inadequate crew decisions to apply appropriate corrective actions,
- Inadequate crew training program,
- Poor operational supervision on part of the operator.
Final Report:

Crash of an Antonov AN-32B in Tarapacá

Date & Time: Jun 11, 2017 at 1712 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HK-4833
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
La Pedrera – Tarapacá
MSN:
34 04
YOM:
1993
Country:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
40
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
8400
Captain / Total hours on type:
1475.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1560
Copilot / Total hours on type:
426
Aircraft flight hours:
3409
Aircraft flight cycles:
3182
Circumstances:
Following an unventful charter flight from La Pedrera, the crew initiated the approach to Tarapacá Airfield. Just after touchdown on runway 25, the aircraft went out of control and veered off runway to the right. While contacting soft ground, the airplane rolled for few dozen metres and became stuck in mud. All 45 occupants evacuated safely and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The following findings were identified:
- Inappropriate decision by the aircraft operator to rush the aircraft's initial route to an aerodrome unknown to the company, not appropriate to the type of aircraft and not authorised in its Operating Specifications, without at least a proper risk assessment.
- Inadequate crew decision to accept and decide to proceed to an unknown aerodrome, without due knowledge of its characteristics, without prior experience or training in aerodrome operation and without at least a risk assessment.
- A side runway excursion, from 24 metres from the threshold of runway 25, as a result of a probable unstabilised approach resulting in an off-axis landing.
Contributing factors:
- Inefficient planning and supervision of operations by the aircraft operator, by scheduling the operation to an unknown airfield.
- Failure of the company to comply with the contents of the Dispatch Manual and General Operations Manual, in relation to the procedures that must be complied with before operating new routes, new airports or special airports, in aspects such as route analysis, runway analysis, risk management and crew requirements.
- Ignorance of the Tarapacá runway by the crew.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan near Guaymaral: 8 killed

Date & Time: May 1, 2017 at 1630 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
EJC-1130
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Tolemaida - Bogotá
MSN:
208B-1194
YOM:
2006
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The single engine aircraft was performing a short flight from Tolemaida AFB to Guaymaral Airport in Bogotá. While approaching the airport from the west, the crew encountered limited visibility due to marginal weather conditions when the aircraft impacted trees and crashed on the slope of Cerro Manjui, about 5 km west of the airport. The aircraft was destroyed and all 8 occupants were killed, among them three civilians.

Crash of a Piper PA-31-325 near Purísima de la Concepción

Date & Time: Apr 9, 2017 at 1241 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HP-1928
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Tolú - Montería
MSN:
31-7612020
YOM:
1976
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
14791
Captain / Total hours on type:
700.00
Aircraft flight hours:
6840
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Cali-Alfonso Bonilla Aragón Airport in the morning on a flight to Tolú, carrying seven passengers and one pilot. After takeoff from Tolú, the pilot decided to position to Montería-Los Garzones Airport. Shortly after takeoff, the pilot encountered engine problems and elected to make an emergency landing in a pasture. Upon landing, the right wing collided with obstacles then the nose gear collapsed and the aircraft came to rest near Purísima de la Concepción, about 10 km east of Tolú. The pilot was uninjured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Inadequate fuel management and incomplete execution of procedures by the Pilot, by not activating in time the fuel supply from the external tanks (OUTBD) to the internal tanks (INBD) for the feeding of both the engines, causing the fuel in the internal tanks to run out and causing both engines to stop due to fuel starvation.
Contributing Factors:
- Poor flight planning on part of the pilot by not considering the amount of minimum fuel needed and not complying with the minimum fuel amount required for domestic flights.
- Loss of situational awareness by the pilot by not following the standard operation procedures.
Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing 727-2J0F in Puerto Carreño: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 20, 2016 at 1722 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HK-4544
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Puerto Carreño - Bogotá
MSN:
21105/1158
YOM:
1975
Flight number:
KRE157
Country:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Captain / Total flying hours:
8708
Captain / Total hours on type:
6822.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
3285
Copilot / Total hours on type:
3285
Aircraft flight hours:
60199
Circumstances:
The crew started the takeoff procedure at 1718LT from Puerto Carreño-Germán Olano Airport Runway 07 which is 1,800 metres long. Following a long takeoff roll, the pilot-in-command initiated the rotation when the aircraft overran then rolled for about 95 metres. It collided with two perimeter fences, passed through a road then lifted off. During initial climb, the right main gear was torn off after it collided with a tree and the engine n°3 failed. The airplane continued to climb to an altitude of 790 feet then entered a right turn and eventually crashed in an open field located 7,5 km from the airport, bursting into flames. The flight engineer was seriously injured while five other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The following findings were identified:
- Inadequate flight planning by the operator of the aircraft, and by the crew, by failure to properly perform dispatch procedures, takeoff performance calculations and verification of limitations imposed by operational conditions of the aerodrome according to the configuration of the aircraft.
- Wrong crew decision making by not considering a key aspect affecting aircraft performance, such as the prevailing tailwind at takeoff.
- Erroneous selection of takeoff speeds V1/VR and V2, by the crew, corresponding to an aircraft without modification in its flap system, which led to rotate the aircraft with five more knots of speed, increasing the takeoff run.
- Erroneous rotation technique applied by the Pilot, delayed maneuver that extended the long takeoff run even more.
- Loss of components (landing gear, trailing inboard flap right) and damage to functional systems (loss of engine power n°3 and hydraulic system) necessary to control the aircraft in flight.
- Loss of control in flight generated by asymmetries of lift, power and emptying of the main hydraulic systems that exceeded the capacity of the crew and made it impossible to maintain adequate directional control and stability of the aircraft.
Contributing Factors:
- Non-compliance with the Aeronautical Regulations by the operating company of the aircraft, operating to an aerodrome unsuitable for the operation of B727-200 equipment, which, in addition, was not authorized for that type of aircraft in the company's Operating Specifications, approved by the Aeronautical Authority.
- Lack of standardization and supervision of the operating company of the aircraft, allowing the operation of the B727-200 equipment, to which a modification had been applied to the flap system, with the reference tables of speeds corresponding to the aircraft without modification.
- Execution of take-off with a weight that exceeded the maximum value established in the aircraft performance charts for the conditions prevailing at the Germán Olano airport.
- Omission of the crew by not activating the Standby hydraulic system, which might have allowed emergency hydraulic pressure, to regain control of the aircraft.
- Lack of supervision by the Aeronautical Authority, which allowed for several years the operation of equipment B727-200 of the company operating the aircraft at the Germán Olano aerodrome in Puerto Carreño, when the characteristics of the aerodrome did not allow it and without the operator being authorized to operate equipment B727-200 in that aerodrome.
Final Report:

Crash of an Avro RJ85 in La Ceja: 71 killed

Date & Time: Nov 28, 2016 at 2158 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CP-2933
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Santa Cruz - Medellín
MSN:
E.2348
YOM:
1999
Flight number:
LMI2933
Country:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
73
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
71
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 Swearingen SA227DC Metro 23 in Bogotá

Date & Time: Oct 28, 2016 at 2007 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PNC-0226
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Pereira – Bogotá
MSN:
DC-811M
YOM:
1995
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Pereira, the twin engine airplane was cleared to land on Bogotá-El Dorado Airport Runway 13L. Apparently, the aircraft bounced three times before landing firmly. After touchdown, it went out of control, veered off runway, lost its nose gear and came to rest in a grassy area. All 11 occupants evacuated safely and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. Among the passengers was Juan Fernando Cristo, Minister for Internal Affairs.