Factual Information
On 29 October 2020, at 07:52 local time (12:52 UTC), a Piper PA-34 aircraft, registration HK5096G, operated by Sadeco del Oriente S.A.S., landed at and subsequently took off from Perales Airport (ICAO: SKIB) in Ibagué, Tolima, Colombia. The airport was closed at the time according to a valid NOTAM. The aircraft had one pilot on board; no injuries were reported. The event was classified as a serious incident.
Investigation Results
The investigation by the Grupo de Investigación de Accidentes (GRIAA) identified probable causes and contributing factors. The probable causes were human factor errors: inadequate flight planning by the crews of two aircraft that landed at Perales while it was closed, as they did not consult the NOTAMs in effect for aerodromes considered as alternates; and inadequate interpretation of NOTAMs by the air traffic controller at the FIC-BOG position, who initially confused the validity dates of the NOTAM and later confused the condition "closed" with "non-controlled aerodrome."
Contributing Factors
Contributing factors included insufficient technological resources at the FIC-BOG workstation, where the air traffic controller could only consult printed NOTAMs and lacked computer access for faster and updated review. Additionally, there was a lack of clarity in NOTAM interpretation, which led the controller to apply erroneous operational procedures and confuse the status of a closed aerodrome with that of a non-controlled aerodrome.
Operational Context
Perales Airport is located in Ibagué, Tolima Department, Colombia. The flight was a general aviation private operation conducted by Sadeco del Oriente S.A.S. The incident underscores the importance of proper flight planning and accurate interpretation of aeronautical information.