Colombia | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The single engine aircraft departed Medellín-Enrique Olaya Herrera Airport on a charter flight to Juradó, carrying nine passengers and two pilots. Shortly after takeoff, the crew encountered difficulties to gain sufficient altitude and apparently attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft impacted a hill and eventually crashed into trees. The copilot and three passengers were killed and seven others occupants were injured, some seriously. The aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

The following findings were identified:
- Execution of a take-off with a weight approximately 17% higher than the maximum gross operating weight (MTOW) established for the C208B aircraft.
- Limited climb rate with signs of lift loss due to the low performance given by the overweight during the initial climb phase.
- Forced landing in mountainous terrain due to loss of lift caused by overweight during the initial climb.
- Absence in the identification of the risks associated to an overweight operation of the aircraft.
- Lack of supervision by the Aircraft Operator in relation to the dispatch of aircraft operating from the outside at the main base of operation.

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-3C in Puerto Gaitán

Date & Time: Apr 6, 2016 at 0625 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-3

Operator:

Registration:

HK-2663

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Puerto Gaitán – Villavicencio

MSN:

10210

YOM:

1945

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

4058

Copilot / Total flying hours:

7934

Aircraft flight hours:

23291

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Puerto Gaitán Airport Runway 04, while on a cargo flight to Villavicencio, the left engine exploded and caught fire. As the aircraft was losing speed and height, the crew attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft crash landed in an open field located 2,6 km southwest from the airport, bursting into flames. All three crew members escaped with minor injuries and the aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire.

Probable cause:

Failure of the left engine following the detachment of the head of a cylinder shortly after takeoff. Deficiencies in maintenance processes contributed to this situation. The crew failed to follow the emergency procedures when the left engine caught fire and exploded, reducing the power on the right engine. In such conditions, the aircraft was unable to maintain a safe altitude and the crew was forced to attempt an emergency landing.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 402B in Acandí: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 17, 2015 at 1054 LT

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 402

Operator:

Registration:

HK-4981G

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

City

Schedule:

Acandí – Medellín

MSN:

402B-1042

YOM:

1976

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Acandí-Alcides Fernandez Airport, while in initial climb, the twin engine aircraft stalled and crashed in a house located in the district of Miramar, near the airport. The pilot and a passenger were killed and eight other occupants were injured. There were no victims on the ground and the aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

Stall during initial climb due to the combination of the following factors:
- The total weight of the aircraft was above the MTOW,
- The CofG was outside the enveloppe,
- Poor flight planning.

Crash of a Beechcraft B60 Duke in Bogotá: 9 killed

Date & Time: Oct 18, 2015 at 1619 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft 60 Duke

Operator:

Registration:

HK-3917G

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Site:

City

Schedule:

Bogotá - Bogotá

MSN:

P-410

YOM:

1977

Location:

Bogotá-El Dorado

Bogotá Capital District

Country:

Colombia

Region:

South America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

4916

Aircraft flight hours:

1788

Circumstances:

The twin engine aircraft departed Bogotá-El Dorado on a short flight to Bogotá-Guaymaral Airport, carrying three passengers and one pilot. Three minutes after takeoff from runway 13L, while climbing to a height of 200 feet in VFR conditions, the airplane entered a left turn then descended into the ground and crashed into several houses located in the district of Engativá, near the airport, bursting into flames. The aircraft as well as several houses and vehicles were destroyed. All four occupants as well as five people on the ground were killed. Thirteen others were injured, seven seriously.

Probable cause:

The pilot lost control of the airplane following a loss of power on the left engine during initial climb. Investigations were unable to determine the exact cause of this loss of power. The aircraft's speed dropped to 107 knots and the pilot likely did not have time to identify the problem. Operation from a high density altitude airport contributed to the accident.

Final Report:

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

Date & Time: Oct 14, 2015 at 1146 LT

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 208B Grand Caravan

Operator:

Registration:

PR-MIC

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Geographical / Geophysical / Scientific

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Cali - Cali

MSN:

208B-0841

YOM:

2000

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

9388

Captain / Total hours on type:

4155.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

6343

Copilot / Total hours on type:

1029

Aircraft flight hours:

10519

Circumstances:

The single engine airplane departed Cali-Alfonso Bonilla Aragón Airport on an geophysical exploration mission of the south part of Chocó, carrying three crew members, two pilots and one operator in charge of the LIDAR equipment. At 1144LT, the crew reported his altitude at 5,600 feet. Two minutes later, while cruising in poor visibility, the aircraft struck trees and crashed in wooded and hilly terrain near Yambo. The wreckage was found few hours later and all three occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

The following factors were identified:
- Controlled flight into terrain,
- Execution of a VFR flight in reduced visibility weather conditions,
- Poor decision making by the crew in continuing VFR operation as they were in an environment of significantly reduced visibility,
- Inadequate operational risk assessment due to the lack of familiarity of the foreign crew with the topography and meteorological evolution of the sector.

Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-325 Navajo C/R in Bogotá: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 3, 2015 at 1212 LT

Type of aircraft:

Piper PA-31-310 Navajo

Operator:

El Caminente Air

Registration:

HK-3909G

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Bogotá – Medellín

MSN:

31-7612070

YOM:

1976

Location:

Bogotá-Guaymaral

Bogotá Capital District

Country:

Colombia

Region:

South America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

10377

Captain / Total hours on type:

121.00

Aircraft flight hours:

5209

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Bogotá-Guaymaral Airport, while climbing, the pilot declared an emergency after the failure of the right engine. He attempted an emergency landing in an open field when the aircraft crashed in a prairie located near the Los Andes hippodrome, some 5 km northeast of Guaymaral Airport, bursting into flames. A passenger was seriously injured while both other occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Failure of the right engine during initial climb due to the failure of internal components. The high density altitude was considered as a contributing factor as its affected the aircraft performances.

Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-60 Aerostar in San Pedro de los Milagros: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 11, 2015 at 1740 LT

Type of aircraft:

Piper PA-60 Aerostar (Ted Smith 600)

Operator:

Heliblack

Registration:

N164HH

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Santa Fe de Antioquia - Medellín

MSN:

60-0012

YOM:

1969

Location:

San Pedro de los Milagros

Antioquia

Country:

Colombia

Region:

South America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

8800

Copilot / Total flying hours:

7000

Circumstances:

The twin engine aircraft departed Santa Fe de Antioquia on a flight to Medellín, carrying one passenger and two pilots who were taking part to the production of the Tom Cruise movie 'Barry Seal - American Traffic'. While flying over mountainous terrain in IMC conditions, the airplane struck the slope of a hill with its right wing then crashed at the bottom of trees. A pilot was seriously injured and both other occupants were killed. The aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

The accident was the consequence of a controlled flight into terrain after the crew decided to continue the flight at low height in IMC conditions.
The following contributing factors were identified:
- The foreign crew was not familiarized with the area of flight,
- Poor flight planning,
- CFIT.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 402B in Cajicá: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 8, 2015 at 1003 LT

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 402

Operator:

Registration:

HK-4990

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Guaymaral - Guaymaral

MSN:

402B-1219

YOM:

1977

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

5539

Captain / Total hours on type:

0.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

2594

Copilot / Total hours on type:

Aircraft flight hours:

8985

Circumstances:

The twin engine airplane departed Bogotá-Guaymaral Airport on a local training flight, carrying one passenger, one instructor and one pilot who was following his initial training. While descending to the airport from the north for an approach to runway 11, the crew encountered technical problems with the engine and declared an emergency. While trying to make an emergency landing, the aircraft collided with power cables and crashed in a garden located about 12 km north of Bogotá-Guaymaral Airport. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and all three occupants were killed. There was no fire.

Probable cause:

Double engine failure on approach due to fuel exhaustion. The following contributing factors were identified:
- Poor Crew Resources Management in decision making, team work and communications in the cockpit,
- Low level of alert of the crew while completing a training mission,
- The crew failed to follow the emergency procedures,
- Limited experience of the instructor to proceed with an initial training,
- Poor flight planning.

Final Report:

Crash of a Casa CN-235M-100 in Agustín Codazzi: 11 killed

Date & Time: Jul 31, 2015 at 1430 LT

Type of aircraft:

Casa-Nurtanio CN-235 (IPTN)

Operator:

Registration:

FAC1261

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Palanquero – Valledupar – Barranquilla

MSN:

C-118

YOM:

1997

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft departed Palanquero AFB on a flight to Barranquilla with an intermediate stop in Valledupar. While cruising in poor weather conditions, the crew informed ATC about an engine failure when radio contact was lost. The aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in a field located near Agustín Codazzi, some 50 km south of Valledupar. The aircraft was totally destroyed by impact forces and there was no fire. All 11 crew members were killed. The airplane was completing a special mission on behalf of the Colombian Intelligence Forces.
Crew:
Maj Adalberto Ramírez,
Lt Sergio Bojacá,
2nd Lt Luisa Salazar,
2nd Lt Andrés Rojas,
1st Tec Juan Carlos Correa,
Tec Jorge Iván Angulo,
Tec Giovany Roa,
Tec Tercero Juan Camilo Rivera,
Tec Tercero Hawer Moreno,
Tec Elkin Sierra,
Tec Édgar Contreras.

Crash of a Cessna T303 Crusader in Serranía del Baudó: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 20, 2015 at 1305 LT

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 303 Crusader

Operator:

Jorge Alberto Rodas Estrada

Registration:

HK-4677-G

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Nuquí – Quibdo

MSN:

303-00189

YOM:

1982

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2322

Aircraft flight hours:

6491

Circumstances:

The twin engine airplane departed Nuquí Airport at 1256LT on a flight to Quibdó, carrying two passengers and one pilot. Two minutes after takeoff, the pilot informed ATC he was flying at an altitude of 1,500 feet and estimated his ETA at Quibdó-El Caraño Airport at 1315LT. Nine minutes into the flight, while cruising in IMC conditions, the aircraft contacted trees and crashed in a dense wooded area located near Serranía del Baudó, some 50 km north of Nuquí. SAR operations were initiated but the wreckage was found five days later only. Both passengers, a female aged 18 and her baby aged 8 months were evacuated with minor injuries while the pilot was killed. The aircraft was totally destroyed by impact forces.

Probable cause:

The accident was the consequence of a controlled flight into terrain following the decision of the pilot to continue under VFR mode in IMC conditions.
The following contributing factors were identified:
- Poor risk assessment when planning a flight in VFR conditions over a mountainous area, even though the weather conditions were unfavorable.
- Loss of situational awareness after entering the mountain area under VFR mode in IMC conditions, resulting in a CFIT.

Final Report:

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