Accident Overview
An Airbus A340 aircraft operating a flight from Bogotá, Colombia, to Quito, Ecuador, crashed into Mount El Cable shortly after takeoff. The flight was conducted by TAME under a wet-lease agreement for Air France, as the second leg of Air France Flight 422 from Paris to Quito via Bogotá. The aircraft was cleared for the Girardot 1 departure from runway 13 at Bogotá-El Dorado Airport.
Departure and Deviation
The Girardot 1 departure procedure required the crew to maintain runway heading for two miles after takeoff, followed by a 90-degree right turn over the Romeo beacon. For reasons not specified in the investigation, the crew continued straight ahead, and the aircraft impacted Mount El Cable, located ahead of the airport.
Occupants and Damage
All 53 persons on board were killed in the accident. The victims included 25 European nationals: seven Italians, six French, three Danish, three Spanish, two Germans, two Austrians, one British, and one Swiss. The aircraft disintegrated upon impact, and the wreckage was found 50 meters below the summit of the mountain.
Weather Conditions
At the time of the accident, weather conditions were poor, with rain, clouds at 2,300 feet, and cumulonimbus clouds present.
Probable Cause
The official investigation determined that the probable cause was the crew's loss of situational awareness after takeoff while climbing in instrument meteorological conditions. The crew failed to comply with the Girardot 1 departure procedure, deviated from the published departure procedures, and maintained runway heading until the aircraft collided with terrain.