2005 Piper PA-25-260 accident in Campoalegre, Colombia (HK1672)

Flight and accident sequence On July 27, 2005, the Piper PA-25-260, registration HK-1672-E, operated by TEA S.A., completed a crop-spraying mission from El Limonar in Campoalegre, Huila, Colombia. The aircraft was then being repositioned to Benito Salas Airport in Neiva. The pilot took off in the north-south direction despite strong winds and advice from the operations chief to wait, because the opposite direction was normally used due to obstacles. After takeoff, the aircraft turned left and encountered terrain higher than its altitude. It struck tree tops, crashed to the ground, caught fire, and exploded. ## Aircraft and personnel The aircraft was a Piper PA-25-260, serial number 25-7405692, manufactured in December 1974, powered by a Lycoming O-540-G1A5 engine and fitted with a Hartzell HC-C2-YK-1BF propeller. The pilot, Hernando Duran Garcia, was a 52-year-old Colombian holding license PCA 2544. The passenger was also Colombian. Both occupants died; the pilot died from the impact and explosion, while the passenger escaped the aircraft but later died from burns. ## Investigation findings The investigation found that the pilot was medically fit and experienced, and the aircraft was airworthy and maintained according to schedule. The accident occurred during a repositioning flight with no chemical load. The aircraft was not certified to carry passengers, although carrying a passenger was described as common in agricultural aviation. Strong winds, estimated at about 18 knots, were present. The unusual north-south takeoff direction presented elevated, winding obstacles and a canyon-like terrain. The analysis concluded that a tailwind may have prevented sufficient climb, leading to an attitude that induced a stall and a strike with a tree. The probable causes were an inadequate operational decision to select a less safe takeoff direction and a violation of operating rules by carrying a passenger.