What happened
During a nighttime departure from Bogotá-El Dorado Airport, the flight crew encountered critical mechanical difficulties while climbing. The crew notified Air Traffic Control of engine malfunctions and received clearance to perform an immediate return to the airport. However, as the aircraft was unable to maintain its altitude, the pilot attempted an emergency landing. During this maneuver, the aircraft struck a farm before crashing in an open field. The impact resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft. While all 8 crew members survived the crash with injuries—including five who were seriously hurt—the collision caused the deaths of two people located on the farm.
Findings
Investigations determined that the accident occurred because the aircraft could not sustain flight following the loss of power in two engines. The primary cause was a non-recoverable surge in engine number 4 during the rotation phase, which led to a loss of thrust. This surge was driven by several factors, including high-altitude effects, excessive blade-tip clearance, and an inefficient high-pressure turbine, alongside reduced chord on the fan blades and leading edges. Additionally, an unidentified anomaly occurred in engine number 1 when extra power was required during the ascent. The need for increased power to compensate for the climb exposed this malfunction, which ultimately led to the loss of power in that engine as well.