What happened
On June 4, 2015, at approximately 13:00 local time, a Cessna A188, registration HK1364, was performing specialized agricultural spraying operations over a cornfield at Hacienda “Las Nubes” near Puerto Gaitán, Meta. The aircraft, operated by Fumigación Aérea de Oriente Ltda. (FARO LTDA), had successfully completed three spraying passes.
While initiating a fourth pass on a south-to-north trajectory, the aircraft's main landing gear struck a tension cable belonging to an electrical infrastructure located within the field. The impact caused the aircraft to undergo a dynamic roll in flight, leading to an inverted impact with the ground. The pilot sustained fatal injuries due to the structural collapse of the cockpit area. There was no post-impact fire, and meteorological conditions were within visual flight rules (VFR) limits.
The investigation
The GRIAA investigation established that the aircraft was airworthy and had undergone its annual inspection and 100-hour service in March 2015. Investigators examined the wreckage, the electrical infrastructure, and the pilot's credentials. The investigation found that while the pilot held a valid commercial license, his medical certificate had expired in April 2015.
Analysis of the flight path and environmental conditions ruled out solar glare as a contributing factor. The investigation also identified organizational deficiencies within the operator, specifically regarding the implementation of a Safety Management System (SMS) and the lack of documented hazard identification and risk assessment procedures for the specific spray plots being serviced.