What happened
On the day of the accident, Avianca flight 410 was performing a scheduled service from Bucaramanga to Barranquilla, including stops at Cúcuta and Cartagena. Due to the unavailability of the primary aircraft, the crew utilized HK-1716, a Boeing 727-21, which caused the flight to depart approximately two and a half hours behind schedule. After arriving at Cúcuta Airport at 12:28 local time, the pilot requested engine start clearance but was initially informed of a delay due to incoming traffic. Seeking to mitigate further delays, the crew requested permission to climb on course under Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC).
The tower granted this request, and the aircraft was cleared for takeoff at 13:13. During the initial ascent, the aircraft followed the runway centerline before entering a continuous left turn. Shortly after, the pilot instructed the co-pilot to begin a right turn. During this phase of flight, the aircraft impacted the peak of El Espartillo Mountain at an altitude of 6,343 feet. The crash resulted in 143 fatalities.
Findings
Investigations into the disaster identified several critical contributing factors involving both crew performance and external pressures. The pilot-in-command failed to maintain proper supervision over the co-pilot and did not conduct a formal crew briefing for the VMC departure. Furthermore, the presence of an unauthorized individual in the cockpit caused significant distractions, as this person's frequent interruptions disrupted the crew's ability to execute their duties efficiently.
A primary factor was the decision to prioritize schedule recovery over safety, driven by the earlier delays caused by the aircraft swap. This pressure led the pilot-in-command to request an immediate departure rather than following the tower's recommendation to wait. The investigation also noted a lack of coordination and teamwork regarding the specific flight profile required for the departure, alongside the dangerous decision to continue VFR flight into IMC.