What happened
On September 12, 2014, a Piper PA-28, registration HK2399G, was conducting a training flight for the Escuela de Aviación del Pacífico. The flight was part of a scheduled training mission between Cali and Cartago, Colombia. While returning to Cali, the student pilot was instructed by the Tuluá tower to deviate eastward to avoid other traffic.
During this deviation, the pilot encountered cloud cover. While attempting to navigate through the clouds, the aircraft inadvertently entered a mountainous region of the Cordillera Central. At an altitude of 7,000 feet, the pilot encountered the terrain of Cerro Niza. In an attempt to avoid the mountain, the pilot executed a maneuver that resulted in a loss of lift, causing the aircraft to strike the terrain. The student pilot survived the impact with minor injuries and was later rescued by a Colombian Air Force helicopter.
The investigation
The GRIAA investigation examined the flight path, meteorological conditions, and the pilot's training background. The investigation established that the aircraft was well-maintained and that the pilot held valid medical and aeronautical certifications. However, investigators noted that the pilot lacked specific training in Controlled Flight into Terrain (CFIT) prevention and instrument procedures for unexpected weather.
Meteorological data indicated that while regional reports suggested visual flight conditions were possible, the specific area near the mountains was experiencing deteriorating conditions with mountain clouds. The investigation also noted that the flight school lacked a specific safety program to monitor CFIT risks or manage the risks associated with low flight continuity among students.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was a loss of situational awareness as the pilot inadvertently entered a mountainous area under unintended instrument meteorological conditions while operating under visual flight rules.
- The pilot's lack of experience and insufficient training in instrument procedures contributed to the inability to navigate safely once visual references were lost.
- A lack of specific CFIT avoidance training and the absence of a formal CFIT risk supervision program at the flight school were contributing factors.
- The impact was survivable due to the low speed of the aircraft and the presence of dense vegetation that cushioned the strike.