Crash of a Douglas DC-3-455 in Las Gaviotas

Date & Time: Jun 21, 2004 at 1700 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HK-1212
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Las Gaviotas – Puerto Carreño
MSN:
4987
YOM:
1942
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
18
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
50159
Circumstances:
Following technical problems, a DC-3 operated by Viarco diverted to Las Gaviotas Airport and was grounded. The operator send a second aircraft to Las Gaviotas to pick up the passengers. Shortly after takeoff from runway 24, while in initial climb, the right engine failed and caught fire. The aircraft stalled and crashed in a wooded area, bursting into flames. All 20 occupants were injured, six seriously. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Rupture of a crank and subsequent total loss of power and fire in the right engine during rotation of the plane, which reduced the performance of the aircraft, causing the pilot to lose control of the aircraft, resulting in the immediate collision with the ground.

Crash of a Swearingen SA227AC Metro III in Carepa: 5 killed

Date & Time: May 5, 2004 at 1300 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
HK-4275X
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bogotá – Carepa
MSN:
AC-676
YOM:
1987
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Aircraft flight hours:
19335
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Bogotá-El Dorado Airport, the crew started the approach to Carepa-Los Cedros Airport, the copilot was the pilot-in-command. On final approach, the captain took over controls and continued the descent when the GPWS alarm sounded seven times. For unknown reasons, the captain failed to respond to this situation and did not proceed with any corrective actions. On short final, at a height of about 200 feet, one of the engine failed. The crew failed to follow the published procedures, causing the aircraft to stall and to crash about 100 metres short of runway 33. Two passengers were seriously injured while five other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The following findings were identified:
- Poor judgement of distance, speed, altitude and the obstacle clearance during the final approach,
- Attempting the operation beyond the experience and the high level of competence required by the crew,
- Encountering unforeseen circumstances exceeded the capacity of the crew,
- Diverting attention on the operation of the aircraft,
- Lack of approved procedures, directives and instructions,
- The absence of CRM procedures and low situational awareness,
- The lack of evasive action when the ground proximity warning system's alarm sounded,
- The sudden loss of power in one of the engines,
- The wrong use of the world's major flight to maintain directional control,
- The activation of the Stall Avoidance System (SAS) on the control column, moving it forward when the plane was at low altitude.

Crash of a Douglas DC-10-30F in Bogotá

Date & Time: Apr 28, 2004 at 0356 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N189AX
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Miami – Bogotá
MSN:
48277
YOM:
1981
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
77864
Aircraft flight cycles:
12224
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful cargo flight from Miami-Intl Airport on behalf of Lineas Aéreas Suramericanas, the crew started a night approach to Bogotá-El Dorado Airport. On final, the aircraft was unstable and too low when the GPWS alarm sounded five times. The captain increased engine power and elected to gain height, causing the aircraft to continue over the glide. At an excessive speed of 180 knots, the aircraft landed 1,500 feet past the runway 13L threshold (runway 13L is 3,800 metres long). After touchdown, the crew started the braking procedure but unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overran. It lost its undercarriage, collided with the ILS equipment, lost both engines n°1 and 3 and eventually came to rest few hundred metres further in a grassy area. All three crew members escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Departure from runway 13 left the El Dorado airport as a result of a landing with a speed of 180 knots and 1500 feet from the threshold, during which the spoilers were not used and in which there was hydroplaning by the main landing gear making the braking action less than expected. The decision of the crew to continue the approach despite the fact that this was not stabilized in accordance with the criteria described in the manual of operations of the airline. The omission of points in the checklist and call out from the crew that resulted in a lower alert situation facing the parameters of the approach and monitoring the operation of key systems such as the extension of spoilers after the landing. The non-response to the ground proximity warning system that is sounded for at least five times during the final approach in two different modes.

Crash of a Douglas DC-9-15F near Mitú: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 18, 2003 at 1710 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HK-4246X
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Yopal – Mitú
MSN:
47062
YOM:
1968
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
13768
Captain / Total hours on type:
8054.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
2300
Copilot / Total hours on type:
601
Aircraft flight hours:
56703
Circumstances:
While cruising at an altitude of 25,000 feet on a cargo flight from Yopal to Mitú, the crew was cleared to descend to 7,000 feet for an approach to runway 01 at Mitú-Fabio Alberto León Bentley Airport. Few minutes later, while descending at an altitude of 23,300 feet, the aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in a mountainous and isolated area located about 135 km northwest of Mitú Airport. The wreckage was found 10 days later, on December 28, at coordinates N 002° 19' 15'' W 070° 47' 13''. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all three crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
At the time of the accident, weather conditions were good, the crew was fit for flying and the flight conditions were considered as normal. It was determined that the crew noted two consecutives loud 'bang' before control was lost, and it is believed that the aircraft suffered a structural failure of undetermined origin at the altitude of 23,300 feet.
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:
Operator:
Registration:
XB-BAQ
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Medellín – Panama City
Country:
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 a Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain in Corozal

Date & Time: Jul 31, 2003
Operator:
Registration:
ARC-511
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
31-7405151
YOM:
1974
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances while on approach to Corozal-Las Brujas Airport. All three occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Basler BT-67 in Ocaña

Date & Time: Apr 30, 2003
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PNC-212
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
13110
YOM:
1944
Country:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After landing at Ocaña-Aguas Claras Airstrip, the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran and came to rest in a ditch. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Cessna 208B Caravan near El Paujil: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 25, 2003 at 1920 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N5512B
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Larandia - Larandia
MSN:
208B-0299
YOM:
1992
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The single engine aircraft departed Bogotá on a flight to Larandia AFB where it was refueled. On board were one passenger and two pilots who were taking part to an anti-narcotic program on behalf of the US and Colombian Governments. The aircraft departed Larandia AFB at 1906LT on a reconnaissance flight to find three Americans who were taken hostage by FARC rebels after the crash of a first Cessna 208 operated by One Leasing last February 13. About 14 minutes into the flight, while cruising by night at an altitude of 4,500 feet in limited visibility, the aircraft struck a tree and crashed, bursting into flames. The wreckage was found on the slope of Mt La Sonora and all three occupants were killed.

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

Date & Time: Feb 13, 2003 at 0843 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N1116G
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Bogotá - Florencia
MSN:
208B-0402
YOM:
1994
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
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 Piper PA-60 Aerostar (Ted Smith 600) near Cajamarca: 5 killed

Date & Time: Feb 6, 2003 at 1539 LT
Registration:
HK-3645P
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Guaymaral – Girardot – Popayán
MSN:
60-0159-072
YOM:
1974
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Captain / Total flying hours:
11169
Captain / Total hours on type:
31.00
Aircraft flight hours:
2169
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft was completing a flight from Guaymaral to Popayán with an intermediate stop in Girardot, carrying four passengers and one pilot. The aircraft departed Girardot-Santiago Vila Airport at 1523LT. The pilot contacted Bogotá Control and reported his altitude at 4,200 feet bound to the west. At 1537LT, he received the QNH pressure. Two minutes later, while cruising in clouds, the aircraft collided with trees and crashed on the slope of a mountain, bursting into flames. The wreckage was found on Mt San Isidro five days later. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all five occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain after the pilot decided to continue under VFR mode in IMC conditions.
Final Report: