What happened
On March 17, 2012, at approximately 16:01 local time, a Cessna 182 M, registration HK-1441 G, departed from Yariguies Airport (SKEJ) in Barrancabermeja, Colombia. The aircraft was performing a private general aviation flight, consisting of a local overflight of the Norma-Whiskey area.
At 16:29, the pilot reported being 8 nautical miles from the aerodrome and requested to return for landing. Air traffic control authorized the aircraft to enter the left base for runway 04. However, the aircraft never completed the requested communication. At 16:45, airport authorities were alerted to an accident near the airfield. The aircraft had struck high-voltage power lines located 0.9 nautical miles from runway 22. The impact caused the wires to break and become entangled in the aircraft's wings and landing gear, dragging the plane approximately 400 meters before it struck the ground in a violent, frontal impact. A post-crash fire resulted in the total incineration of the aircraft. All three occupants perished instantly due to the extreme deceleration forces.
The investigation
The GRIAA investigation examined the aircraft's maintenance records, the pilot's flight history, and the physical evidence at the crash site. Investigators found that the aircraft had been properly maintained, with its last 100-hour inspection completed in December 2011. Meteorological conditions at the time of the accident were stable with good visibility and had no impact on the event.
The investigation also reviewed the pilot's operational continuity. While the pilot held a valid medical certificate, records indicated a low frequency of flight operations, averaging only a few days per month. Furthermore, the investigation analyzed the flight path, noting that the aircraft was operating at an altitude significantly below the minimum safety requirements established by the Colombian Aeronautical Regulations (RAC) for visual flight rules (VFR).
Findings
- The aircraft was flying at a low altitude, below the regulatory minimums required for VFR operations.
- The pilot's low operational continuity may have contributed to reduced situational awareness and a failure to identify the high-voltage power lines.
- The impact with the electrical lines caused the aircraft to become unstable and entangled, leading to the fatal ground impact.
- The aircraft's weight and balance were within safe limits for the flight.