South America | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

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 S550 Citation II in Charallave

Date & Time: Aug 26, 2015 at 2230 LT

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 550 Citation II

Operator:

Registration:

YV3125

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Oranjestad – Barcelona – Charallave

MSN:

S550-0085

YOM:

1986

Location:

Charallave-Óscar Machado Zuloaga

Miranda

Country:

Venezuela

Region:

South America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was performing a charter flight from Oranjestad (Aruba) to Charallave with an intermediate stop in Barcelona. While on a night approach to runway 10, the captain initiated a go-around procedure for unknown reasons. During the second attempt to land, the aircraft landed long and the touchdown point appeared to be half way down the runway 10 which is 2,000 meters long. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overran, went down an embankment and came to rest. All eight occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. The passengers were members of the pop band 'Los Cadillac's' accompanied by the Venezuelan singer and actor Arán de las Casas.

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 an Embraer C-95BM Bandeirante in Lagoa Santa

Date & Time: Jul 27, 2015

Type of aircraft:

Embraer C-95 Bandeirante

Operator:

Registration:

2326

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Lagoa Santa - Lagoa Santa

MSN:

110443

YOM:

1984

Location:

Lagoa Santa AFB (Belo Horizonte)

Minas Gerais

Country:

Brazil

Region:

South America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was conducting a training mission at Lagoa Santa AFB, consisting of touch-and-go maneuvers. During the takeoff roll, the pilot-in-command pulled on the control column to initiate the rotation but the aircraft did not respond. It went out of control, veered off runway to the right, struck an embankment, lost its undercarriage and slid for few dozen metres before coming to rest in a grassy area. All three occupants escaped uninjured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

It is believed that the accident was a consequence of a wrong takeoff configuration as the crew did not set the flaps properly.

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:

Crash of a Beechcraft C90GTi King Air in Belo Horizonte: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jun 7, 2015 at 1525 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft 90 King Air

Operator:

Registration:

PR-AVG

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

City

Schedule:

Belo Horizonte – Setubinha

MSN:

LJ-1891

YOM:

2008

Location:

Belo Horizonte-Pampulha-Carlos Drummond de Andrade

Minas Gerais

Country:

Brazil

Region:

South America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The twin engine airplane departed Belo Horizonte-Pampulha-Carlos Drummond de Andrade Airport on a flight to Setubinha-Fazenda Sequóia Airfield, carrying one employee of the company and two pilots. Prior to takeoff, the captain informed the copilot he wanted to perform an 'American' takeoff with full engine power followed by a steep climb. After liftoff, the crew raised the landing gear then continued over the runway at low height until the end of the terrain to reach a maximum speed, then initiated a steep climb at 90°. The aircraft reached the altitude of 1,700 feet in 15 seconds then stalled and entered an uncontrolled descent. It dove into the ground and crashed in a vertical attitude into a houses located in a residential area some 800 metres from the airport. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all three occupants were killed. One people on the ground was slightly injured.

Probable cause:

Loss of control after the crew initiated aerobatic maneuvers at low altitude.

Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31T Cheyenne II off Barcelona

Date & Time: May 30, 2015 at 1635 LT

Type of aircraft:

Piper PA-31 Cheyenne

Operator:

Inversiones PTT

Registration:

YV2761

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Charallave – Barcelona

MSN:

31-8120055

YOM:

1981

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Following an uneventful flight from Charallave, the pilot initiated the descent to Barcelona-Jose Antonio Anzoátegui Airport in poor weather conditions. On final, in a flat attitude, the twin engine aircraft impacted the water surface and came to rest some 3,7 km short of runway 15. All four occupants evacuated the cabin and took place in a lifeboat. Slightly injured, they were rescued two hours later. The aircraft sank and was lost.

Crash of a Embraer EMB-821 Carajá in Rochedo

Date & Time: May 24, 2015 at 0953 LT

Type of aircraft:

Embraer EMB-820 Navajo/Carajá

Operator:

Registration:

PT-ENM

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Miranda – Campo Grande

MSN:

820-072

YOM:

1978

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

8378

Captain / Total hours on type:

470.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

1006

Copilot / Total hours on type:

Circumstances:

The twin engine airplane departed Miranda-Estância Caimam Airfield at 0915LT on a charter flight to Campo Grande, carrying seven passengers and two pilots. About 35 minutes into the flight, while flying 79 km from the destination in good weather conditions, the left engine failed. The crew was unable to feather the propeller and to maintain a safe altitude, so he decided to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft belly landed in an agriculture area, slid for few dozen metres and came to rest. All nine occupants suffered minor injuries and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Failure of the left engine in flight due to fuel exhaustion. The following findings were identified:
- The fuel tanks in the left wing were empty while a quantity of 320 litres of fuel was still present in the fuel tanks of the right wing,
- The crew was unable to maintain altitude because he could not feather the left propeller,
- The pilots were misled by a false indication of the fuel gauge coupled to the left wing tank which displayed a certain value while the tank was actually empty. This error was caused by the fuel sensors for the left wing tanks being installed inverted,
- The aircraft was not airworthy at the time of the accident due to several defects,
- The Minimum Equipment List (MEL) was not up to date,
- The Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) was unserviceable,
- The automatic propeller feathering system was out of service,
- The fuel sensors for the left wing tanks had been installed inverted,
- Bad contact with the right wing fuel sensor connector plug,
- The pilots failed to follow the published procedures related to an engine failure,
- Poor flight preparation,
- Crew complacency,
- The crew training program by the operator was inadequate,
- Lack of supervision on part of the operator.

Final Report:

Crash of a Embraer EMB-820C Navajo in Ricaurte: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 24, 2015 at 0040 LT

Type of aircraft:

Embraer EMB-820 Navajo/Carajá

Operator:

Registration:

PT-RCN

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Illegal (smuggling)

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

820-121

YOM:

1982

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew took off from a small airfield located in the suburb of Manaus at the end of the day with a load of 616 small packages containing cocaine. After entering the Venezuelan Airspace without clearance, the crew was contacted twice by ATC but failed to answer. Authorities decided to send two fighters to establish a visual and radio contact with the crew but without success as, due to the low visibility caused by night and poor weather conditions, the crew of the Navajo was able to continue the flight without further problem. Nevertheless, three hours later, the twin engine aircraft was again localized passing over the State of Cojedes, and the decision was taken to shoot it down. Out of control, the Navajo crashed in a pasture located in the region of Ricaurte, and was totally destroyed by impact forces. Both pilots were killed and a load of narcotics was found. At the time of the accident, the aircraft was illegally registered YV1246 as a sticker has been affixed above the official Brazilian registration PT-RCN.

Probable cause:

Shot down by the pilot of a Venezuelan Air Force fighter.

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