What happened
On August 8, 2015, at approximately 15:03 UTC, a Cessna C-402B, registration HK-4990, crashed in the Vereda Guarigua area of Cajicá, Cundinamarca, during a local training flight. The aircraft, operated by AEROEXPRESS S.A.S, was performing a VFR training mission originating from Guaymaral Airport.
During the flight, the aircraft struck electrical power lines and subsequently collided with the upper corner of a building under construction. The impact caused the loss of the right aileron and triggered a sequence of structural failures, including the separation of the left engine and the right engine. The aircraft then struck an embankment, causing it to flip onto its back. The impact resulted in three fatalities among the occupants, which included an instructor, a co-pilot, and a third individual who was not listed on the original flight plan.
The investigation
The GRIAA investigation established that the aircraft was operating under visual flight rules (VFR) in daylight with clear weather conditions. While the aircraft was maintained according to manufacturer standards, investigators found that the fuel tanks, lines, and distributors were completely empty at the time of the crash. There was no evidence of fire before or after the impact, as the engines had ceased functioning due to fuel exhaustion.
Investigators noted that the aircraft's instrument panel, based on its manufacturing era, lacked a low-fuel warning light. Additionally, while the instructor held valid licenses, the investigation highlighted a lack of sufficient flight experience in this specific model to conduct such training safely. The investigation also confirmed that the third occupant was on board despite not being documented in the flight plan.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the failure to properly monitor fuel consumption and verify fuel quantities during checklist execution, leading to fuel exhaustion.
- The crew demonstrated poor situational awareness and inadequate Crew Resource Management (CRM), specifically regarding decision-making and communication.
- There was a failure to execute established emergency procedures for engine failure and to perform an emergency forced landing once power was lost.
- The instructor had limited experience in the Cessna C-402B, having only recently completed training on the type.
- The aircraft's lack of a low-fuel warning light contributed to the crew's inability to detect the critical fuel state.