Accident Overview
On June 30, 2021, at approximately 08:37 local time (13:37 UTC), a Cessna A188A, registration HK1477, crashed while performing aerial spraying operations over a rice field at Finca La Reforma, in the municipality of Paz de Ariporo, Casanare, Colombia. The aircraft was operating under visual meteorological conditions (VMC) in daylight. No post-impact fire occurred.
Sequence of Events
The aircraft was prepared for the mission earlier that morning. At 08:24, it departed from the Zamar airstrip, located about 3.5 nautical miles northwest of the target field. According to GPS data, the aircraft arrived over the field at 08:33, flying a heading of 300 degrees, and conducted a right turn to survey the area. Spraying commenced at 08:34:07.
The pilot initially performed three passes in a "carrusel" pattern along a heading of 290 degrees, covering a length of 1.52 nautical miles. Subsequently, the pilot began spraying the edge of the field using a 90-270 maneuvering technique. After completing three more passes on the same heading, during a left turn followed by a right turn, the aircraft lost altitude and collided with the terrain.
Company personnel were notified about the accident approximately ten minutes after takeoff. The pilot was found alive at the scene and was assisted by local residents and company staff before being transported to a medical facility. He later succumbed to his injuries.
Aircraft and Injuries
The Cessna A188A is a single-engine agricultural aircraft. The accident resulted in substantial damage to the airframe. The engine and propeller separated, the firewall and chemical tank were destroyed, the cockpit structure was extensively damaged, the left wing was partially torn, and the right wing was separated from its attachment. The pilot, the sole occupant, sustained fatal injuries.
Investigation and Cause
The Colombian accident investigation authority (DIACC) determined that the probable cause of the accident was a loss of control in flight during a low-altitude turn, during which the aircraft likely exceeded its aerodynamic limits, resulting in a stall and subsequent collision with terrain. A contributing factor was the presence of low-level wind shear (LLWS) and clear air turbulence (CAT) in the surface layer during the low-altitude flight.