Casualties unknown

2014-12-31: PA-28-140 (HK1685) — Bogotá, CO

Bogotá, CO

On December 31, 2014, a PA-28-140 (registration HK1685) was involved in an aviation accident near Bogotá, CO. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Low situational awareness by the student pilot, leading to loss of control on the ground and runway excursion. This summary draws on records from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Group of the Colombian Civil Aviation Authority (GRIAA).

Sourcesthe Aircraft Accident Investigation Group of the Colombian Civil Aviation Authority (GRIAA)Primary reportUpdated 1785102594Data APIEditorial standards

On 31 December 2014, a Piper PA-28-140 (HK1685G) operated by Escuela Aeroclub de Colombia experienced a runway excursion during a touch-and-go training flight at Guaymaral, resulting in substantial damage. The student pilot was uninjured.

Synopsis

On December 31, 2014, a Piper PA-28-140 aircraft, registration HK1685G, operated by Escuela Aeroclub de Colombia, was scheduled for a training flight consisting of touch-and-go circuits at Flaminio Suárez Camacho Aerodrome (SKGY) in Guaymaral, Colombia. The sole occupant was a student pilot. The aircraft departed at 08:33 HL (13:33 UTC) on runway 11. The student completed three touch-and-go circuits without incident. During the fourth takeoff, the aircraft began to zigzag on the runway, veered left, and exited the paved surface into the safety area 26 meters ahead of taxiway D (Delta). The aircraft traversed approximately 119 meters off the runway, crossing two drainage ditches. The first ditch partially buried the nose landing gear and caused the propeller to strike the ground, resulting in a sudden engine stoppage. The second ditch fractured the nose gear, and 18 meters further, the aircraft experienced a dynamic rollover.

Factual Information

The aircraft sustained substantial damage, including fracture of the nose landing gear, sudden engine stoppage, deformation of propeller blade tips, crushing of the upper cabin, fracture of the front windshield, dents in the engine cowling, and dents in the right wingtip and vertical stabilizer. The student pilot was uninjured and evacuated with assistance from the aerodrome's fire service and national police; he was transported by helicopter to a medical center for examination and toxicology sampling. The serious incident occurred at 08:53 HL (13:53 UTC) in visual meteorological conditions (VMC) with daylight, and no fire occurred before or after the incident.

Probable Cause

The investigation determined that the serious incident resulted from the student pilot's low situational awareness, which led to a loss of control on the ground and a subsequent runway excursion.