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Crash of a Basler BT-67 in Villavicencio

Date & Time: Apr 13, 2022 at 1303 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PNC-0257
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Florencia – Villavicencio
MSN:
9670
YOM:
1943
Country:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After landing on runway 23 at Villavicencio-La Vanguardia Airport, the airplane veered off runway to the left and entered a grassy area. It rolled for few hundred metres then the pilot attempted to takeoff when the left wing dropped. The aircraft stalled, impacted trees and crashed about 200 metres to the right of the runway 05 threshold. All 14 occupants were rescued, among them few were injured.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3C near Restrepo: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 8, 2021 at 0705 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HK-2820
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Villavicencio - Villavicencio
MSN:
20171
YOM:
1944
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
16973
Copilot / Total flying hours:
9387
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed Villavicencio-La Vanguardia Airport at 0643LT on a training flight consisting with a proficiency check of the captain. On board were one instructor, one captain and one mechanic. About 22 minutes into the flight, while cruising over mountainous terrain in Instrument Meteorological Conditions, the airplane impacted trees and crashed on the slope of a hilly terrain located in the region of Restrepo. The wreckage was found three days later and all three crew members were killed.

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 Beechcraft C90 King Air in Villavicencio: 5 killed

Date & Time: Mar 12, 2014 at 0633 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HK-4921
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Bogotá – Araracuara
MSN:
LJ-721
YOM:
1977
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Captain / Total flying hours:
3013
Captain / Total hours on type:
538.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1341
Copilot / Total hours on type:
483
Aircraft flight hours:
9656
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Bogotá-El Dorado Airport at 0600LT on an ambulance flight to Araracuara, State of Caquetá, carrying two doctors, one patient and two pilots. Fifteen minutes into the flight, the crew contacted ATC, reported problems and was cleared to divert to Villavicencio. On approach to Villavicencio-La Vanguardia Airport, the aircraft stalled and crashed in a wooded area parallel to a road, bursting into flames. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire and all five occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The following factors were identified:
- The lack of technical knowledge published in the POH for the execution of the pertinent actions during the failure of the engine in flight, together with the unwise decisions made by the crew in that situation.
- The haste of the crew members to land caused them to act in an uncoordinated manner and without the assertiveness required for the execution of the procedures contemplated by the manufacturer, the navigation charts and the published approach procedures.
- The omissions, reactions and deviations inappropriate to conduct the flight safely to the runway.
- The turning to the runway on the same side of the inoperative (critical) engine and maximum power on the operational engine during the unstabilized approach to the runway threshold which led to loss of control of the aircraft in low altitude flight.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft 350 Super King Air near Uribe: 6 killed

Date & Time: Sep 7, 2010 at 2306 LT
Operator:
Registration:
FAC-5747
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
MSN:
FL-454
YOM:
2005
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft was engaged in a reconnaissance and survey mission over the southern Colombia territory, carrying six crew members. At 2306LT, the last radio contact was recorded with the crew. In unknown circumstances, while cruising at an altitude of 10,600 feet, the aircraft impacted terrain near Uribe. The wreckage was found four days later, on September 11. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all six occupants were killed.

Crash of a Let L-410UVP-E10A near Cubarral: 17 killed

Date & Time: Oct 8, 2007 at 1550 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HK-4055
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Villavicencio - Uribe
MSN:
90 25 21
YOM:
1991
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
15
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
17
Captain / Total flying hours:
5550
Captain / Total hours on type:
432.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
287
Copilot / Total hours on type:
134
Aircraft flight hours:
2435
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Villavicencio-La Vanguardia Airport at 1530LT on a flight to Uribe with 15 passengers and 2 pilots on board. En route, while cruising in poor weather conditions, the crew reported his ETA in Uribe at 1550LT. At an altitude of 11,800 feet, the aircraft struck the slope of a mountain and disintegrated on impact. The wreckage was found 3 days later on Mt Páramo El Nevado, about 33 km northeast of Cubarral. The aircraft was totally destroyed upon impact and all 17 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain after the crew decided to continue the flight under VFR mode in IMC conditions. The following contributing factors were identified:
- Erroneous navigation,
- Low situational awareness regarding the geographical orientation at the beginning and during the flight,
- Failure to observe the warnings of closeness with terrain for three minutes, issued by the TAWS equipment.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Gulfstream 695A Jetprop 1000 in Puerto López: 8 killed

Date & Time: Feb 19, 2001
Operator:
Registration:
EJC-114
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
695-96083
YOM:
1985
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
On approach to Puerto López Airport, the twin engine aircraft was too low and crashed in hilly terrain located few km from the airfield. The aircraft was destroyed and all 8 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-60-CS Commando in Villavicencio: 10 killed

Date & Time: Jul 9, 2000 at 0825 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
HK-851P
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Villavicencio – Mitú
MSN:
383
YOM:
1945
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
17
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Aircraft flight hours:
38837
Circumstances:
The aircraft, registered to a private individual, departed Villavicencio-La Vanguardia Airport on a charter flight to Mitú, carrying 17 passengers and two pilots while the aircraft was certified to carry 13 passengers maximum. The crew filed an flight plan with only six people on board. Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the right engine caught fire. The crew activated the fire extinguishing system but as both bottles were empty, the fire could not be contained. The captain initiated a right hand turn to return to the airport when the aircraft stalled and crashed, bursting into flames, two minutes after takeoff. Both pilots and eight passengers were killed while nine other people were injured. The aircraft was totally destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire.
Probable cause:
The decision and inappropriate operation of the pilot to return with a right hand turn with an uncontrolled fire in the n°2 engine leading to a loss of lift on the wing on that side and a loss of control over the aircraft. It was also determined that the aircraft was not airworthy at the time of the accident. The crew flying experience could not be determined as the crew failed to complete their personal logbook. Also, the captain's medical certificate was not valid anymore.

Crash of a Douglas DC-6A in Villavicencio: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jul 4, 1999 at 1212 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
HK-1776
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Villavicencio – Mitú
MSN:
45499/1011
YOM:
1958
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Villavicencio-La Vanguardia airport at 1206LT on a cargo flight to Mitú, carrying 12 passengers, three crew members and a load of various goods consisting of food and also 7 tons of fuel in 55 drums. After takeoff from runway 22, while climbing, the engine n°2 lost power. The captain decided to return for an emergency landing and was cleared to land on the same runway. On final approach, the airplane became unstable when the flight engineer shut down the engine n°2. The aircraft landed too far down the runway, about 1,700 feet past the runway threshold. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, it overran and came to rest against an embankment, bursting into flames. Four passengers were killed while 11 other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
The following findings were identified:
- Wrong approach configuration on part of the crew,
- Poor approach planning and execution, causing the aircraft to be unstable on short final,
- The landing speed was excessive and the aircraft landed too far down the runway,
- Unnecessary shut down of the engine n°2, causing the hydraulic systems of the main brakes to be unserviceable,
- Late application of the brakes after touchdown.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-20-DK in Villavicencio

Date & Time: Mar 30, 1996 at 0835 LT
Registration:
HK-2497
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Villavicencio - La Macarena
MSN:
15634/27079
YOM:
1945
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
18
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Copilot / Total flying hours:
2107
Copilot / Total hours on type:
353
Aircraft flight hours:
20486
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Villavicencio-La Vanguardia Airport, while climbing to an altitude of 1,900 feet, the captain reported severe vibrations with the left engine and was cleared to return. The crew shut down the left engine and started the approach to runway 22. But on final, he realized he could reach the airport so he completed a belly landing one km short of runway threshold. The aircraft came to rest in a field and was damaged beyond repair. All 20 occupants escaped uninjured.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the vibrations and the subsequent failure of the left engine was the consequence of a bad adjustment of the intake valves on cylinders n°8 and 9, which remained stuck in open position, causing high temperature and a loss of power.
Final Report: