What happened
On July 8, 2021, at approximately 07:09 local time, a Douglas DC-3, registration HK2820, crashed into mountainous terrain in the Vereda Salinas area of Restrepo, Meta, Colombia. The aircraft was operating as a non-scheduled commercial flight, performing a recurrent flight check for one of its pilots.
The flight departed from Vanguardia Airport (SKVV) at 06:59 local time. While the initial takeoff appeared normal, the aircraft subsequently deviated from its intended flight path. The crew was operating under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) in Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC). The impact occurred in a mountainous region, leading to the deaths of all three occupants on board.
The investigation
The GRIAA investigation examined the flight's trajectory, the crew's adherence to standard operating procedures, and the air traffic services provided during the flight. Investigators analyzed the flight plan, which lacked proper IFR authorization and a specific Standard Instrument Departure (SID) procedure.
The investigation also scrutinized the air traffic control (ATC) environment, specifically looking at the radar display configuration, the timing of controller handovers between airport control and approach control, and the accuracy of meteorological reports provided by local services. Additionally, the investigation reviewed the maintenance records of the aircraft and the training manuals of the operator to identify systemic gaps in safety oversight.