Crash of a Cessna 421C Golden Eagle III in Valledupar: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 7, 2024 at 1140 LT
Operator:
Registration:
HK-4983
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Valledupar – Bogotá
MSN:
421C-0346
YOM:
1977
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The airplane was operated on an ambulance flight from Valledupar to Bogotá-Guaymaral Airport, carrying six people, a mother and son, a doctor, a nurse and two pilots. After takeoff from runway 02/20, the airplane reached the altitude of 50 metres then stalled and crashed near trees, bursting into flames. Five occupants were injured and the doctor was killed. The airplane was destroyed by a post crash fire.

Crash of a Cessna T303 Crusader in Bojacá: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 8, 2021 at 1320 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HK-3856-G
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Girardot – Bogotá
MSN:
303-00010
YOM:
1981
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot, sole on board, departed Flandes-Santiago Vila Airport runway 02 at 1257LT on a flight to Guaymaral in Bogotá. En route, weather conditions worsened and the visibility was poor. While cruising at an altitude of 9,260 feet, the twin engine airplane impacted trees and crashed in a wooded and hilly terrain located near Bojacá. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and the pilot was killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was the consequence of a controlled flight into terrain after the decision of the pilot to continue the flight under VFR mode in IMC conditions.
The following contributing factors were identified:
- The pilot took the decision to continue the flight to destination instead of returning to Flandes (Girardot) or to divert to the alternate airport,
- A low situational awareness on part of the pilot who failed to take into account the geographical environment and to maintain a safe separation from the terrain.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan in Guaymaral

Date & Time: Sep 22, 2020 at 0655 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
HK-4669G
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Guaymaral – Flandes
MSN:
208B-0968
YOM:
2002
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
13220
Captain / Total hours on type:
1506.00
Aircraft flight hours:
2830
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Guaymaral-Flaminio Suárez Camacho Airport runway 29, while climbing to a height of 200 feet, the engine suffered and explosion and lost power. The airplane started to descend, impacted a brick wall and lost its undercarriage. It then crash landed in a prairie and slid for few dozen metres before coming to rest. All five occupants escaped uninjured. The accident occurred three minutes after takeoff.
Probable cause:
The investigation determined that the accident was caused by the following probable causes:
- Emergency landing of the aircraft on an unprepared field, as a result of a decrease in power, generated by engine failure.
- An engine failure caused by the fracture of three (3) blades of the rotor disk of the high pressure compressor, which caused severe backwards damage to the hot and power section.
Contributing Factors:
- Non-compliance in the engine maintenance process, of what was ordered in AD. No. 2014-17-08R1 FAA (year 2014), which establishes the replacement of the engine blades high pressure compressor in anticipation of material failures in these components.
- Deficient maintenance processes by the provider of this service to the aircraft HK4669G, by not detecting the condition of the high-pressure rotor blades in the boroscopic inspections of the high pressure during routine boroscopic inspections.
- Deficient verification of the Operator's contracted maintenance processes, by not verifying the quality and compliance the quality and full compliance of these processes by the maintenance service provider.
Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo in Bogotá: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 12, 2020 at 1544 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HK-4686
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Bogotá – Villagarzón
MSN:
31-344
YOM:
1968
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Captain / Total flying hours:
1890
Captain / Total hours on type:
250.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
646
Aircraft flight hours:
10251
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Bogotá-Guaymaral Airport, while in initial climb, the crew informed ATC about the failure of the right engine. He was cleared to return for an emergency and completed a circuit to land on ruwnay 11. On final, the airplane lost height and crashed in a wooded area located about 800 metres short of runway, bursting into flames. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire and all four occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The investigation determined that the accident was caused by the following probable cause(s):
- Loss of in-flight control as a result of slowing below Minimum Control Speed and drag, generated by the failure of the right engine (No. 2).
- Failure of engine No. 2, due to lack of lubrication, possibly caused by oil leakage through an 11.5 mm fracture, found in one of the sides of cylinder No. 2 at the height of the intake valves.
- Inappropriate application by the crew of the emergency procedure for landing with an inoperative engine, by not declaring the emergency, not feathering the propeller of the inoperative engine and configuring the aircraft early for landing (with landing gear and flaps) without having a safe runway, making it difficult to control the aircraft and placing it in a condition of loss of lift and control.

Contributing Factors:
- Failure of the operator to emphasize in the crew training program the techniques and procedures to be followed in the event of engine failure, among others, the declaration of emergency to ATC, the flagging of the propeller of the inoperative engine, the care in the application of power to the good engine so as not to increase yaw and not to configure the aircraft until landing has been assured.
- Lack of emergency calls by the crew, which denotes deficiencies in the Operator's Safety Management System, and which prevented the early warning of the aerodrome support services and deprived the crew of possible assistance from other aircraft or from the same operator.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan near Guaymaral: 8 killed

Date & Time: May 1, 2017 at 1630 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
EJC-1130
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Tolemaida - Bogotá
MSN:
208B-1194
YOM:
2006
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The single engine aircraft was performing a short flight from Tolemaida AFB to Guaymaral Airport in Bogotá. While approaching the airport from the west, the crew encountered limited visibility due to marginal weather conditions when the aircraft impacted trees and crashed on the slope of Cerro Manjui, about 5 km west of the airport. The aircraft was destroyed and all 8 occupants were killed, among them three civilians.

Crash of a Beechcraft B60 Duke in Bogotá: 9 killed

Date & Time: Oct 18, 2015 at 1619 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HK-3917G
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Bogotá - Bogotá
MSN:
P-410
YOM:
1977
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
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 Piper PA-31-325 Navajo C/R in Bogotá: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 3, 2015 at 1212 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
HK-3909G
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bogotá – Medellín
MSN:
31-7612070
YOM:
1976
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
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 Cessna 402B in Cajicá: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 8, 2015 at 1003 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HK-4990
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Guaymaral - Guaymaral
MSN:
402B-1219
YOM:
1977
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
5539
Captain / Total hours on type:
0.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
2594
Copilot / Total hours on type:
59
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 Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain in Mariquita: 10 killed

Date & Time: Dec 3, 2014 at 0931 LT
Operator:
Registration:
HK-4464
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Bogotá-Guaymaral – Bahía Solano
MSN:
31-7952229
YOM:
1979
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
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-31-350 Navajo Chieftain in Bogotá: 8 killed

Date & Time: Sep 1, 2005 at 1045 LT
Operator:
Registration:
HK-3069P
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Bogotá - Puerto Berrío
MSN:
31-8352036
YOM:
1983
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Captain / Total flying hours:
753
Captain / Total hours on type:
83.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
105
Aircraft flight hours:
2090
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Bogotá-Guaymaral Airport runway 10, while in initial climb, the crew initiated a left turn in accordance with procedures. The copilot contacted ATC and declared an emergency following technical problems. The crew was immediately cleared to land at his discretion when the aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in a prairie located 600 metres from the runway 28 threshold. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all eight occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
A possible fuel contamination affected the power on one engine or both. The aircraft was overloaded at takeoff, which, compounded by the considerable loss of power to the engines due to the altitude of the aerodrome, did not allow the pilot to maneuver the aircraft to return to the runway. In addition, the center of gravity, despite being within the permissible limits, was too far behind for an operation in adverse weather conditions.
Final Report: