What happened
On August 2, 2012, at approximately 14:30 local time, a Cessna 188A, registration HK1477, was performing aerial spraying operations over a rice field in the Villanueva municipality of Casanare, Colombia. The aircraft was operating in a low-altitude agricultural capacity, flying longitudinal passes over the crop.
During a North-South pass, the aircraft struck three wires belonging to a medium/high-voltage electrical line with its right main landing gear. The impact caused the wires to become entangled in the landing gear and the right wing structure. Despite the entanglement, the pilot attempted to maintain control, but the aircraft continued flying for approximately 2 and 60 meters before impacting the terrain. The force of the impact caused the engine to separate from its mount and the propeller to detach.
The investigation
The GRIAA investigation examined the aircraft's maintenance records, the pilot's history, and the environmental conditions at the time of the accident. The investigation confirmed that the Cessna 188A was airworthy, with all required inspections and maintenance up to date. Meteorological analysis determined that visibility was excellent and the sky was clear. While witnesses suggested solar glare might have obscured the wires, calculations showed the sun was positioned at an elevation of 50.41° and an azimuth of 292.36°, which did not create a direct glare interference for the cockpit during the flight path.
The investigation also reviewed the pilot's flight history, noting that the pilot had significant experience in agricultural aviation but had a history of similar occurrences, including a previous accident in 1981 involving an obstacle and a 2007 incident involving contact with power lines.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the impact of the aircraft against electrical cables, which became entangled in the right main landing gear.
- The pilot likely misjudged the vertical clearance between the aircraft and the power lines.
- A lack of situational awareness contributed to the erroneous perception of separation from the electrical infrastructure.
- The pilot had a documented history of repetitive impacts with obstacles during agricultural flight operations.
- The aircraft's right wing separated from the fuselage due to the tension from the entangled wires.
- The pilot sustained fatal injuries due to severe blunt force trauma caused by the high deceleration during the ground impact.