What happened
On August 9, 2016, a Cessna 172N, registration HK4822G, operated by a flight training center, crashed into mountainous terrain in the municipality of Fredonia, Antioquia. The aircraft was conducting a visual flight rules (VFR) training mission from Cartago to Medellín, carrying one flight instructor and two student pilots.
After reporting several waypoints along the planned route, the aircraft ceased all radio communications. Following an intensive search, the wreckage was located the next morning at an elevation of 7,412 feet. The impact was characterized by a high angle of descent and low speed. The crash resulted in two fatalities (the instructor and one student) and one serious injury (the student observer).
The investigation
The GRIAA investigation established that the crew inadvertently entered instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) while attempting to maintain visual references amidst deteriorating weather. The investigation highlighted that the flight instructor had a history of similar incidents, with three previous student reports documenting instances where the instructor intentionally or inadvertently entered IMC during VFR operations.
Investigators also found that the crew failed to perform a Flight Risk Assessment Tool (FRAT) analysis during flight planning. Furthermore, while the aircraft was airworthy and maintained, the flight log lacked records for engine and airframe hours.
Findings
- The primary cause was the unintentional entry into IMC while operating under VFR, likely due to the crew's attempt to search for visual conditions along the route.
- The flight instructor made the erroneous decision to continue the flight despite evident adverse convective weather along the path.
- A loss of situational awareness occurred as visibility significantly reduced, leading to controlled flight into terrain (CFIT).
- The aircraft flew through an area of convective activity, where it likely encountered microburst-related downdraft currents.
- The crew's failure to utilize the FRAT prevented the identification of significant operational hazards prior to departure.