What happened
On August 22, 2012, a Cessna 172M, registration HK1919G, operated by Escuela de Aviación Los Halcones S.A., was conducting a flight training mission from Medellín's Enrique Olaya Herrera Airport. The flight, carrying a flight instructor and a student pilot, was intended to perform maneuvers in the Santafé de Antioquia area via a visual departure known as "La Garcia."
During the initial climb, the instructor ordered S-turns to gain the necessary altitude of 8,50 and feet required to clear mountainous terrain. However, the aircraft maintained a minimum climb gradient at low speeds. As the crew approached the target area, the aircraft began to descend at a rate of 500 feet per minute with speeds dropping to approximately 40 knots. In an attempt to find suitable terrain for an emergency landing, the instructor identified power lines in the flight path. While maneuvering to avoid these electrical lines, the aircraft lost lift and struck the terrain in the Vereda Cuatro Vientos area.
The impact caused substantial damage to the aircraft, including structural failure of the wing and landing gear. Both the instructor and the student sustained serious injuries, including fractures, but survived the accident.
The investigation
The GRIAA investigation focused on the flight parameters, engine performance, and human factors. Mechanical inspections of the Lycoming engine and propeller revealed no malfunctions; the engine was operating normally at the time of the accident. The investigation also examined the flight profiles and the operational procedures of the flight school.
Investigators analyzed the crew's decision-making process and the environmental conditions, noting that while the weather was clear (VFR), the aircraft was operating in a high-altitude mountainous region with unfavorable wind conditions (tailwind) that contributed to the performance degradation.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was a loss of lift (stall) resulting from low airspeed, which was exacerbated by the maneuver to avoid power lines.
- The instructor failed to maintain the programmed altitude during the climb, leading to a loss of situational awareness.
- There was a lack of standardized procedures within the flight school regarding specific altitude requirements for visual departures in the Medellín area.
- The instructor's decision-making was influenced by overconfidence and a lack of standardized climb profiles for different VFR departures.
Safety action
- The GRIAA recommended that the flight school implement standardized procedures in its Manual of Ground Operations (MGO) to define safe altitudes for all VFR departures in Medellín.
- It was recommended that flight schools conduct academic workshops to reinforce aerodynamics and aircraft performance concepts for all crews.
- The investigation suggested that aviation authorities should monitor the implementation of these safety recommendations and disseminate the findings to all flight training centers.