What happened
On December 16, 2001, at approximately 10:15 local time, a LET 410UVP-E, registration HK4175, departed from Medellín, Colombia, en route to Quibdó. The aircraft, operated by Heliandes S.A., initiated a right turn toward the town of Caldas to perform its first position report. However, the aircraft failed to make the scheduled radio contact with the control tower. After the aircraft failed to appear at the expected time and signal was lost, rescue units were alerted.
The wreckage was subsequently located at Cerro El Silencio, situated west of Olaya Herrera Airport, at an elevation of approximately 9,100 feet on a heading of 220 degrees. The impact resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft and 16 fatalities, comprising both the crew and passengers.
The investigation
Preliminary investigation by the GRIAA focused on the flight path and the loss of communication between the aircraft and the control tower. Investigators established that the aircraft disappeared from radar/radio contact during the initial climb phase of the flight, following its turn toward Caldas. The investigation confirmed that the aircraft struck terrain at high elevation.