Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 on Mt El Plateado: 23 killed
Date & Time:
Jan 23, 1985 at 1035 LT
Operator:
Registration:
HK-1910
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Quibdó – Medellín
MSN:
497
YOM:
1976
Flight number:
VX052
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
21
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
23
Captain / Total hours on type:
2364.00
Copilot / Total hours on type:
3510
Aircraft flight hours:
18238
Circumstances:
While cruising under VFR mode on a flight from Quibdó to Medellín, the crew encountered marginal weather conditions with mist and intermittent rain falls. At an altitude of 11,500 feet, the airplane impacted the slope of Mt El Plateado located in the northeast part of the Chocó Province, about 66 km northeast of Quibdó. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and all 23 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The following findings were identified:
- The crew continued the flight under VFR mode in adverse weather conditions.
- The crew deviated from the airway specified in the air route manual and maintained a flight level below that established for instrument flight conditions.
- Poor supervision on part of the Operation Personnel and the Operator, by allowing crews to deviate from flight routes within the airways clearly established in the Colombian Air Routes Manual.
- The crew continued the flight under VFR mode in adverse weather conditions.
- The crew deviated from the airway specified in the air route manual and maintained a flight level below that established for instrument flight conditions.
- Poor supervision on part of the Operation Personnel and the Operator, by allowing crews to deviate from flight routes within the airways clearly established in the Colombian Air Routes Manual.
Final Report:
