Incident Overview
On May 9, 2020, a Cessna A188B agricultural aircraft registered as HK-3520 was involved in a controlled flight into terrain accident. The aircraft, operated by Aero Sanidad Agrícola S.A.S. (ASA), was conducting crop spraying operations over the Finca Las Linas plantation in the Magdalena department of Colombia. The incident occurred at approximately 07:34 local time (12:34 UTC) in visual meteorological conditions.
Flight Details and Sequence of Events
The aircraft had completed seven successful spray passes, covering a portion of the 264-hectare banana plantation. During the eighth flight, which took off around 07:22 local time, the pilot was executing a turn over the crops in a rural, mountainous area. The investigation determined that the aircraft experienced a loss of lift due to low airspeed during this maneuver. Consequently, the plane descended rapidly and impacted the ground approximately 500 meters from the target lot at coordinates N11°14'42.04" W73°44'32.55".
Casualties and Damage
The sole occupant, a 29-year-old pilot, sustained serious injuries including multiple fractures but survived the crash. The aircraft suffered substantial damage; the engine and its mount were destroyed upon impact, and the primary structure of the fuselage and wings sustained significant blows. However, the cabin area remained largely intact, which contributed to the pilot's survival. Minor environmental damage occurred due to spills of fuel, oil, and fungicide.
Investigation Findings
The Colombian accident investigation group (GRIAA) concluded that the probable cause was an aerodynamic stall resulting from low airspeed while maneuvering in a turn within mountainous terrain. This condition occurred during the exit phase of a spraying pass. The pilot failed to anticipate or correct this situation in time, leading to the loss of control and subsequent impact with the ground.