What happened
On November 11, 2017, at approximately 15:40 local time, a Piper PA-25-260, registration HK1353, was performing agricultural spraying operations over a cornfield in the Leticia lot, near Chicoral, Tolima. The aircraft departed from the Chicoral Estra aerodrome to execute a series of parallel spray passes.
During a right-hand turn—a standard 'carousel' maneuver used in agricultural aviation—the aircraft's left wing struck the canopy of a tree approximately 25 meters in height. The impact caused a sudden loss of control and subsequent contact with the ground. The collision triggered a post-impact fire that consumed approximately 90% of the airframe. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, sustained fatal injuries and was ejected from the aircraft during the impact.
The investigation
The GRIAA investigation revealed a significant pattern of regulatory non-compliance. The aircraft, HK13 .53, was operating with a suspended airworthiness certificate, having been suspended by the operator's own request in November 2013. Furthermore, the operator, Espinal Trabajos Aéreos (ESTRA LTDA), was operating without a valid authorization, as its operating permit had been suspended by the Colombian Civil Aviation Authority in July 2014.
Regarding the crew, the pilot was flying with an inactive license, as his medical certificate had expired in December 2014. The investigation also noted a lack of operational oversight, evidenced by the pilot's failure to wear a helmet and the absence of flight preparation records. Technical analysis of the wreckage confirmed that the engine was producing power at the time of the accident and ruled out mechanical failure as a cause. Solar position calculations indicated that the sun's elevation and azimuth placed it directly in the pilot's flight path during the maneuver, likely causing significant glare.
Findings
- Collision with an obstacle during low-altitude flight.
- Sun glare significantly reducing visibility within the cockpit during the turn.
- Unauthorized operation of the aircraft and the company by the operator.
- The pilot was operating with an expired medical certificate and an inactive license.