History of the Flight
On November 30, 2017, a Piper PA-28-235 with registration HK1573G was scheduled for a dual instruction flight from Guaymaral Aerodrome (SKGY) to training area SKE25. The aircraft departed at 06:46 local time (11:46 UTC) and conducted instrument training. After 47 minutes, the instructor requested priority to land at Guaymaral due to technical issues and asked for fire services. During the return, the aircraft lost altitude and speed. When abeam the Zipaquirá VOR, the instructor diverted to Las Acacias runway (SKAI), an emergency strip. While approaching Las Acacias, the aircraft entered instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) due to low fog, struck a tree, and crashed. The accident occurred at 07:37 local time (12:37 UTC).
Injuries and Damage
The two occupants—a flight instructor and a student pilot—sustained fatal injuries upon impact. The aircraft was destroyed. No post-impact fire occurred.
Investigation Findings
The investigation identified the following causal factors: malfunction of the engine due to inadequate fuel supply caused by rust accumulation in the fuel selector filters; loss of visual conditions by the crew upon entering low fog as a result of altitude loss from low engine power, leading to disorientation and collision with an obstacle; deficient risk analysis during flight preparation by dispatch and crew regarding weather conditions; and deficient standards of the training center concerning minimum vertical visibility for training flights and inadequate flight monitoring.
Contributing factors included deficient preventive maintenance on the fuel selector—no manufacturer-required service or preservation program during the aircraft's inactivity—and weather conditions with low clouds near the training area.