What happened
On February 12, 2020, a Piper PA3-310, registration HK4686, operated by Aero Taxi Guaymaral ATG S.A.S., departed Guaymaral Airport (SKGY) for a scheduled flight to Villa Garzón. Shortly after takeoff, the crew contacted their dispatch office via mobile phone to request a return to the company's platform to retrieve paperwork, without providing specific details regarding an emergency.
While performing a left traffic pattern for runway 11, the aircraft experienced a failure of the number two (right) engine. During the subsequent approach, the crew configured the aircraft for landing by extending the flaps and lowering the landing gear. However, while on final approach, the aircraft lost control and struck the terrain approximately 0.44 NM from the runway threshold. The impact and a subsequent post-crash fire destroyed 90% of the aircraft's structure. All four fatalities (two crew members and two passengers) occurred at the scene.
The investigation
The GRIAA investigation focused on the mechanical failure of the right engine and the crew's emergency response. Investigators examined the engine cylinders and found an 11.5 mm fracture on the side of cylinder No. 2 near the intake valves. This fracture likely caused an oil leak, leading to insufficient lubrication.
Analysis of the aircraft's configuration at impact revealed that the landing gear was down and flaps were extended, creating high drag. Radar data showed the aircraft's altitude steadily decreasing from a peak of 460 feet until the moment of impact. The investigation also scrutinized the operator's training programs and safety management systems (SMS), noting a lack of emergency declaration to Air Traffic Control (ATC) and a failure to follow manufacturer recommendations regarding engine-out procedures.