What happened
On February 16, 2016, a Laviosa PA-25-260, registration N25LV, was scheduled for a ferry flight from José María Córdova International Airport (SKRG) to Flaminio Suárez Camacho Airport (SKGY) under Visual Flight Rules (VFR). The aircraft, which had recently been moved from the United States to Colombia for nationalization, departed from runway 01 at 13:55 HL.
During the initial climb phase, the aircraft failed to achieve the expected aerodynamic performance. The pilot reported encountering critical turbulence at approximately 200 feet AGL, which caused a loss of altitude. The aircraft entered an aerodynamic stall on two separate occasions. Unable to maintain altitude and control, the pilot executed an emergency landing in an unprepared field within a mountainous area in the Vereda El Carmende, Rionegro. The aircraft struck vegetation on a 35-degree slope at an elevation of 7,175 feet. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, evacuated the aircraft uninjured.
The investigation
The GRIAA investigation focused on the aircraft's performance capabilities and the pilot's qualifications. Investigators analyzed GPS tracks, which showed the aircraft's final approach to the terrain at a low horizontal speed. The investigation also examined the aircraft's maintenance logs and the pilot's flight experience.
Technical analysis revealed that high density altitude conditions—driven by a temperature of 26°C and a pressure altitude of 6,767 feet—significantly degraded the aircraft's climb rate by approximately 74%. Furthermore, the investigation found that the aircraft was operated outside of its center of gravity limits due to improper weight and balance calculations. The investigation also confirmed that the pilot had not completed the required ground school, flight training, or specific type rating checks for the PA-25-260 as mandated by Colombian aeronautical regulations.