What happened
A scheduled night flight departing from Bogotá-El Dorado Airport for San Andres Island crashed while attempting to land at San Andres-Gustavo Rojas Pinilla Airport. The aircraft, carrying a total of 131 people including 125 passengers and six crew members, encountered severe weather during the approach. Air traffic control notified the crew that visibility had decreased to 4 km because of intense rainfall.
During the short final phase of the flight, the crew configured the aircraft type with flaps at 30 degrees and disengaged the autopilot. After descending past 500 feet, the captain reviewed go-around procedures in preparation for potential windshear. Shortly after this review, the co-pilot called for a go-around, but the aircraft struck the ground approximately 49 metres before the runway threshold. The force of the impact caused the engines and landing gear to detach, and the fuselage broke into three sections as the wreckage slid for several dozen metres. The accident resulted in two fatalities and 129 injuries, with nine individuals suffering serious wounds.
Findings
- The flight encountered heavy rain and reduced visibility of 4 km.
- The crew was managing potential windshear conditions during the final approach.