Incident Overview
On August 26, 2016, a Piper PA-25-260 with registration HK-588, owned and operated by Fumigaciones Aéreas del Norte (Fuminorte SAS), was conducting an agricultural spraying mission over a sugarcane field near the municipality of Obando in the Valle del Cauca department. The aircraft departed from Santa Ana de Cartago Airport (SKGO) at 07:13 local time, carrying 230 liters of agrochemicals and 40 gallons of fuel.
Flight Sequence and Impact
The pilot began the spraying operation at 07:16 local time. The last communication with air traffic control occurred at 07:29 local time. Subsequent attempts to contact the aircraft were unsuccessful. At approximately 08:02 local time, an ultralight aircraft in the area located the wreckage of HK-588, situated roughly four nautical miles south of Zaragoza.
Investigation findings indicate that while flying on a heading of 270 degrees during the entry trajectory to the field, the aircraft struck power lines belonging to the Cartago-Obando-Zarzal electrical interconnection. This impact caused the aircraft to lose control and crash violently into the terrain approximately 160 meters ahead in the direction of flight. The aircraft came to rest 20 meters further along its path, where a post-impact fire resulted in the total incineration of the airframe.
Casualties and Damage
The sole occupant, a 24-year-old commercial pilot, was killed in the impact. The aircraft suffered major structural damage from the ground impact and was completely destroyed by fire. Minimal ecological damage was reported resulting from the crash site.
Probable Cause and Contributing Factors
The investigation determined that the probable cause of the accident was the pilot's poor decision-making in selecting a flight altitude below the limits established by the operator's General Operations Manual (MGO). The pilot maintained low situational awareness, which allowed the aircraft to collide with vegetation. A contributing factor identified was the pilot's limited experience and judgment regarding the specific type of special aerial work being performed.