What happened
On May 9, 2020, a Cessna A188B, registration HK3520, was conducting agricultural spraying operations over banana plantations at the Las Linas farm in Guachaca, Magdalena. The aircraft, operated by Aero Sanidad Agrícola S.A.S., had successfully completed seven spraying passes without incident. During the eighth flight, while executing a maneuver to exit a spray pass, the aircraft entered a steep left turn toward a mountainous area. During this turn, the aircraft experienced an aerodynamic stall, causing it to descend rapidly and impact the terrain approximately 500 meters from the target field. The pilot sustained serious injuries, including multiple fractures, but survived the impact.
The investigation
The investigation conducted by the GRIAA examined the flight path using GPS data, which revealed a significant decay in airspeed during the maneuver. The data showed the aircraft's speed dropping from approximately 88 mph to 65.7 mph as it progressed through the turn. Investigators also reviewed the aircraft's maintenance records, finding the engine and flight controls to be in good working order and the aircraft fully airworthy. Meteorological analysis confirmed that the weather conditions were stable with good visibility, ruling out wind shear or extreme weather as contributing factors. The investigation also noted that the company's safety management system had not formally designated the nearby mountainous terrain as a "no-flight zone."