What happened
On December 24, 2014, a Cessna T207A, registration HK4892, was operating a non-scheduled passenger flight from Palonegro International Airport (SKBG) to Jerónimo de Aguayo Aerodrome (SKLA) in Málaga, Colombia. The aircraft departed at 14:35 local time with one pilot and six passengers on board.
During the flight, the pilot reported crossing the Laguna de Ortices position and requested a frequency change for landing. However, the aircraft failed to arrive at its destination. Following the activation of search and rescue protocols, the wreckage was discovered at 19:30 local time in a mountainous area of the Chicamocha Canyon, near the La Cabrera village in Piedecuesta. The impact occurred at approximately 15:15 local time under visual meteorological conditions. The aircraft was destroyed, and all seven fatalities (one pilot and six passengers) were caused by the forces of impact.
The investigation
The GRIAA investigation focused on the aircraft's performance and the accuracy of the flight's pre-flight documentation. Investigators examined the engine, propeller, and the weight and balance manifest provided by the operator, Aerolíneas Alas de Colombia Ltda.
While the engine's physical components were difficult to fully inspect because the aircraft had rolled into an abyss during the accident, investigators analyzed the available wreckage and the flight's radar tracks. The investigation also scrutinized the weight and balance calculations, as well as the pilot's adherence to the flight plan and standard operating procedures.
Findings
- The investigation identified significant errors in the weight and balance manifest, including incorrect calculations of the total moment and the center of gravity (CG).
- The aircraft was operated with an incorrect CG that fell outside the permitted limits for the Cessna T207A.
- There was undeclared cargo in the forward baggage compartment that was not recorded in the manifest.
- The pilot failed to verify the exact weight and CG of the aircraft before departure.
- The pilot operated at a cruise altitude lower than the altitude specified in the filed flight plan.
- The accident was likely caused by a partial loss of engine power or a loss of aerodynamic performance, compounded by the improper weight and balance and the pilot's decision to fly at a lower altitude.