Summary of Events
On 19 November 2019, a student pilot was conducting a solo cross-country training flight in a Piper PA-28, registration HK1328G, operated by Escuela de Aviación de los Andes Aeroandes S.A.S. The flight plan included stops at Flandes (SKGI), Neiva (SKNV), Mariquita (SKQU), and Ibagué (SKIB), with a final full-stop landing at Flandes. The engine started at 11:00 local time. The student performed multiple touch-and-go landings at each airport.
While in the traffic pattern at Flandes, on the base leg for runway 19, the engine suddenly lost power. The student reported the loss to air traffic control and, realizing the aircraft would not reach the runway, decided to head toward the Magdalena River after a recommendation from a pilot in the area. The student executed a controlled ditching at the confluence of the Bogotá and Magdalena Rivers.
Aircraft and Pilot Information
The aircraft was a Piper PA-28. The pilot held a student airplane license (APA) and was in the final phase of training (cross-country flights). The aircraft had no flight data recorder; radar tracks and pilot statements were used for investigation.
Accident Sequence
At approximately 14:50 local time, while on base leg for runway 19 at Flandes, the engine ceased operation. The student turned toward the river and conducted an emergency ditching. The aircraft touched down on the water in a controlled manner. The student evacuated the aircraft, entered the water, and swam to the shore. The student was unharmed and was soon assisted by Colombian Army personnel who transported him to a medical center in Girardot for evaluation.
The aircraft remained afloat for about 15 minutes, drifting approximately 400 meters downstream, before sinking. The accident occurred in daylight with visual meteorological conditions.
Post-Accident
The investigation team arrived the same day. The aircraft was submerged in the Magdalena River at coordinates N 04°17'14" W 74°47'43", elevation 280 m, and was not visible from the surface. The aircraft sustained significant damage.
Probable Cause
The investigation determined that the probable cause of the accident was a sudden engine shutdown due to low fuel level in the wing tanks and limited fuel flow to the engine during a turn in the traffic pattern. A contributing factor was the lack of a clear fuel policy by the flight school, which did not require instructors, operations, dispatch, or the student to carefully plan the fuel required for the intended route and maneuvers.