Tolima | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

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 Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain in Mariquita: 10 killed

Date & Time: Dec 3, 2014 at 0931 LT

Type of aircraft:

Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain

Operator:

Registration:

HK-4464

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Bogotá-Guaymaral – Bahía Solano

MSN:

31-7952229

YOM:

1979

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2190

Captain / Total hours on type:

392.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

302

Copilot / Total hours on type:

302

Aircraft flight hours:

10091

Circumstances:

The twin engine aircraft departed Bogotá-Guaymaral Airport on a charter flight to Bahía Solano, carrying eight passengers and two pilots. En route, while in cruising altitude, the crew contacted ATC and reported engine trouble. He was then cleared to divert to Mariquita-José Celestino Mutis Airport for an emergency landing. On final approach to runway 19, the aircraft stalled and crashed on hilly and wooded terrain, bursting into flames. The aircraft was totally destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all 10 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

The accident was the consequence of the malfunction of the right engine in flight, causing a loss of speed and a subsequent stall.
The following contributing factors were identified:
- Limited operation of the aircraft due to an inoperative engine,
- Low speed,
- When the aircraft stalled, the distance with the ground was insufficient to expect recovery,
- The maintenance services were not performed according to the manufacturer when the aircraft was parked for almost six months.

Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-60 Aerostar (Ted Smith 600) near Cajamarca: 5 killed

Date & Time: Feb 6, 2003 at 1539 LT

Type of aircraft:

Piper PA-60 Aerostar (Ted Smith 600)

Operator:

Pablo Valencia Iragorri

Registration:

HK-3645P

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Guaymaral – Girardot – Popayán

MSN:

60-0159-072

YOM:

1974

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

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:

Crash of a Convair CV-580 in Espinal

Date & Time: Apr 8, 1995 at 1630 LT

Type of aircraft:

Convair CV-580

Operator:

SEC Colombia - Servicio Especializado de Carga Aérea

Registration:

HK-3675

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Ferry

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Espinal - Bogotá

MSN:

214

YOM:

1954

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

242

Captain / Total hours on type:

50.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

208

Copilot / Total hours on type:

Aircraft flight hours:

28843

Aircraft flight cycles:

8030

Circumstances:

The aircraft had been stolen in December 1992 and was later found abandoned at Espinal Airfield. SEC Colombia bought it and completed an in-site C1 check before transferring it to Bogotá-El Dorado Airport. While taking off from runway 26 ( gravel strip of 1,010 metres long), the aircraft deviated to the left and failed to lift off. It overran, crossed a road and came to rest 275 metres further, bursting into flames. All four crew members were able to escape and were uninjured while the aircraft was destroyed by fire.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the gravel runway 26 at Espinal Airfield was inappropriate for such type of aircraft. The runway was certified for agricultural aircraft with a maximum takeoff weight of 4,400 pounds while the Convair's takeoff weight was 38,888 pounds. The probable cause of this accident was the decision of the crew to take off from a runway unfit for this flight, finding a lack of performance on the soft surface, which prevented it to reach the VMCA, V1, VR, V2 speeds. The authorization by the company SEC to carry out a takeoff from a runway unfit for the flight was considered as a contributing factor.

Crash of a Grumman G-159 Gulfstream GI in Ibagué: 15 killed

Date & Time: Feb 5, 1990 at 0837 LT

Type of aircraft:

Grumman G-159 Gulfstream I

Operator:

Registration:

HK-3315X

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Bogotá – Neiva – Ibagué

MSN:

YOM:

1959

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While approaching Ibagué-Perales Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and was unable to locate the runway. In such conditions, the captain decided to initiate a go-around procedure and informed ATC that he would divert to the alternate airport if a second attempt-to-land would be abandoned. Few minutes later, while flying at an altitude of 5,000 feet, the aircraft struck the slope of Mt Saludo located 5,6 km west of the airport. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and all 15 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain after the aircraft deviated from the published go-around route for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Handley Page HPR.7 Dart Herald 401 near Roncesvalles: 6 killed

Date & Time: Nov 5, 1989 at 2344 LT

Type of aircraft:

Handley Page HPR-7 Dart Herald

Operator:

Registration:

HK-2702

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Bogotá – Cali

MSN:

180

YOM:

1964

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While cruising by night on a cargo flight from Bogotá to Cali, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with heavy rain falls. In poor visibility, the aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located near Roncesvalles. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and all six occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Cessna 402 on Mt Nevado del Tolima: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 26, 1986

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 402

Operator:

Registration:

HK-2329P

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Panama City - Bogotá

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While cruising at an altitude of 18,000 feet in marginal weather conditions, the twin engine aircraft struck the slope of Mt Nevado del Tolima. All four occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-70-DL in Mariquita: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 12, 1982 at 1730 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

HK-2580

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

City

Schedule:

Mariquita - Mariquita

MSN:

19127

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed Girardot Airport bound for Mariquita on a training flight. After the crew completed nine touch-and-go at Mariquita Airport, the crew took off for a new local circuit. During initial climb, the pilot-in-command initiated a sharp turn to the left when the left wing tip struck the ground, causing the aircraft to crash near the airport. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all four crew members were killed as well as one people on the ground.

Crash of a Beechcraft D18S in Espinal: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 9, 1978

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft D18

Operator:

Lineas Aéreas Orientales (LAOS Colombia)

Registration:

HK-2114X

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

A-1011

YOM:

1954

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was performing a cargo flight from Tres Esquinas Airport. In unknown circumstances, the twin engine airplane crashed in the region of Espinal. The wreckage was found in an isolated area and both occupants were killed.