Crash of a Beechcraft C90 King Air in Villavicencio: 5 killed

Date & Time: Mar 12, 2014 at 0633 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft 90 King Air
Operator:
Registration:
HK-4921
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Ambulance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Bogotá – Araracuara
MSN:
LJ-721
YOM:
1977
Location:
Villavicencio
Meta
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
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 Cessna 208B Grand Caravan in La Leona: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jun 23, 2012 at 1100 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 208B Grand Caravan
Operator:
Registration:
EJC-1131
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Tolemaida - Saravena
MSN:
208B-1199
YOM:
2007
Location:
La Leona
Cundinamarca
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a flight from the Tolemaida Air Base to the airport of Saravena-Los Colonizadores. Few minutes after takeoff, while flying some 35 km from its departure point, the single engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances in a field located in La Leona. All four occupants were killed.

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

Date & Time: Sep 7, 2010 at 2306 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft 350 Super King Air
Operator:
Registration:
FAC-5747
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
FL-454
YOM:
2005
Location:
Uribe
Meta
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
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 Boeing 737-73V in San Andrés: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 16, 2010 at 0147 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 737-700
Operator:
Registration:
HK-4682
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Bogotá – San Andrés
MSN:
32416/1270
YOM:
2002
Flight number:
ARE8250
Location:
San Andrés-Gustavo Rojas Pinilla
San Andrés, Providencia & Santa Catalina
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
125
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
7643
Captain / Total hours on type:
343.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1900
Copilot / Total hours on type:
800
Aircraft flight hours:
23485
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Bogotá-El Dorado Airport at 0007LT on a night schedule service to San Andres Island, carrying 125 passengers and a crew of six. While approaching San Andres-Gustavo Rojas Pinilla Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions. Due to heavy rain falls, the crew was informed by ATC that the visibility dropped to 4 km. On short final, flaps were selected down to 30° then the autopilot system was deactivated. After passing 500 feet on approach, the captain repeated the procedures in case of a go-around would be needed due to windshear conditions. Shortly later, the copilot shouted 'go-around' but half a second later, the airplane impacted ground 49 metres short of runway. On impact, the undercarriage and both engines were torn off. The aircraft slid for few dozen metres before coming to rest, broken in three. Two passengers were killed while 129 other occupants were injured, nine seriously.
Probable cause:
Execution of the flight below the angle of approach, due to a misjudgment of the crew, believing to be much higher, leading the aircraft to fly a typical trajectory of a 'black hole' illusion, which was experienced during the night-time approach to a runway with low contrast surrounded in bright focused lights, aggravated by bad weather of heavy rain.
Final Report:

Crash of an Embraer ERJ-145LR in Mitú

Date & Time: May 5, 2010 at 1049 LT
Type of aircraft:
Embraer ERJ-145
Operator:
Registration:
FAC-1173
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Villavicencio - Mitú
MSN:
145-879
YOM:
2005
Flight number:
NSE9634
Location:
Mitú-Fabio Alberto León Bentley
Vaupés
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
37
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
10254
Captain / Total hours on type:
1060.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1061
Copilot / Total hours on type:
806
Aircraft flight hours:
9095
Circumstances:
After landing on runway 20 (1,760 meters long) at Mitú-Fabio Alberto León Bentley Airport, the aircraft encountered difficulties and was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran at a speed of 52 knots, went through a fence, lost its undercarriage and came to rest in a prairie some 163 metres further. All 41 occupants were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. It was registered FAC-1173 (military) and HK-4536 (civil).
Probable cause:
Wrong approach configuration on part of the crew. Execution of the landing procedure on runway 20 despite the fact that aircraft was unstable on approach. At runway threshold, the aircraft altitude was too high and its speed upon touchdown was excessive (132 knots). The airplane touched down 562 metres past the runway threshold, well beyond the touchdown zone. All brakes systems were activated but the upper right thrust reverser deployed and retracted shortly later due to technical reasons, which was considered as a contributory factor. The following factors also contributed to the mishap:
- Poor techniques used by the pilot-in-command on approach and after touchdown,
- Deviation from standard operating procedures (SOP),
- Non-adherence to published procedures,
- No reaction or corrective action to the EGPWS alarm.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna T303 Crusader in Punta Ocote: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 5, 2009 at 1830 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 303 Crusader
Operator:
Registration:
HK-4324-G
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Illegal (smuggling)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
303-00019
YOM:
1981
Location:
Punta Ocote
Yoro
Country:
Honduras
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Sole on board, the pilot was performing an illegal flight with a bag containing 25 kg of cocaine. While trying to land on a private airstrip in Punta Ocote, the twin engine aircraft hit tree tops and crashed on a road, killing an 18 years old motorcyclist. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire and the pilot escaped uninjured.

Crash of a Let L-410UVP-E in Capurganá

Date & Time: Jun 26, 2009 at 1726 LT
Type of aircraft:
Let L-410
Operator:
Registration:
HK-4094
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:
Medellín – Capurganá
MSN:
86 17 07
YOM:
1986
Location:
Capurganá
Chocó
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
16100
Captain / Total hours on type:
244.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1030
Copilot / Total hours on type:
556
Aircraft flight hours:
11771
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Medellín-Enrique Olaya Herrera Airport at 1610LT on a charter flight to Capurganá, carrying 16 passengers and two pilots. After landing on runway 03 at Capurganá-Narcisa Navas Airport, the aircraft deviated to the left. It veered off runway, rolled through a grassy area then collided with a perimeter fence and came to rest against a tree. All 18 occupants were rescued, among them three were injured, the captain seriously. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control after touchdown following the execution of an unstabilized approach. The following contributing factors were identified:
- Low situational awareness on part of the crew during the approach and landing procedures,
- Pilot fatigue,
- Absence of sterile cockpit,
- Total ignorance of the crew regarding the landing distance needed.
Final Report:

Ground explosion of a Basler BT-67 in Medellín

Date & Time: Feb 18, 2009 at 1510 LT
Type of aircraft:
Basler BT-67
Operator:
Registration:
PNC-0211
Flight Phase:
Parking
Flight Type:
Government
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Medellín – Quibdó
MSN:
25667
YOM:
1944
Location:
Medellín-Enrique Olaya Herrera
Antioquia
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
25
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Parked on the apron at Medellín-Enrique Olaya Herrera Airport, the aircraft was prepared for a flight to Quibdó with two pilots and 25 policemen from the Escuadrón Móvil Antidisturbios (ESMAD). While the people were boarding the airplane, an explosion occurred. The aircraft was destroyed but there was no serious injuries among the 27 people. It is believed that the explosion was caused by the inadvertent detonation of a grenade used by one of the policemen.

Crash of a Basler BT-67 in Palanquero: 5 killed

Date & Time: Feb 18, 2009 at 0800 LT
Type of aircraft:
Basler BT-67
Operator:
Registration:
FAC-1670
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Palanquero - Palanquero
MSN:
19125
YOM:
1943
Location:
Palanquero
Caldas
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
One instructor and four student pilots were engaged in a training mission from Palanquero-German Olano Airport. In unknown circumstances, the converted turboprop DC-3 crashed 8 km from the airport. All five occupants were killed and the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Rockwell Shrike Commander 500S in Planeta Rica: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 3, 2008 at 1825 LT
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Shrike Commander 500
Operator:
Taxi Aéreo Caribeño
Registration:
HK-1697
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Medellín – Montería
MSN:
500-3198
YOM:
1974
Location:
Planeta Rica
Córdoba
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
12153
Captain / Total hours on type:
2000.00
Copilot / Total hours on type:
18
Aircraft flight hours:
6179
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Medellín-Enrique Olaya Herrera Airport at 1745LT on a cargo flight to Montería, carrying two pilots and a load of bovine embryos. The flight to Montería was completed at FL130 then the crew was cleared to start the descent to Montería-Los Garzones Airport. At an altitude of 7,500 feet on descent, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in an open field located in Verada Arroyo, near Planeta Rica. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and both pilots were killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control in altitude for undetermined reasons.
Final Report:
Subscribe to HK - Colombia