What happened
On July 15, 2022, a Cessna A-188 AG Wagon, registration HK-1368, was conducting agricultural spraying operations over a 30-hectare banana plantation near Villavicencio, Meta. The aircraft had completed an initial flight and returned to the Neiva York airstrip to replenish chemical supplies before commencing its second pass.
During the second flight, while the pilot was executing a procedural turn to align the aircraft for a new spray pass, the left wing of the aircraft struck a 15-meter-tall tree located at the edge of the field. The impact caused the pilot to lose control, leading the aircraft to roll onto its back and strike the ground in an inverted position. The impact resulted in the fatal injury of the pilot. The aircraft sustained substantial structural damage, including the separation of both wings and the compression of the cockpit.
The investigation
The investigation conducted by the DIACC established that the aircraft was operating under visual flight rules (VFR) in good meteorological conditions. The investigation examined the flight sequence, the aircraft's maintenance history, and the operational procedures of the operator. It was determined that the aircraft was in a proper weight and balance configuration and that the engine and airframe were well-maintained, with no mechanical failures contributing to the accident.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the collision of the aircraft's left wing with a tree located at the start of the plantation.
- The pilot's overconfidence led to the omission of a low-level reconnaissance flight over the field, which would have identified the tree as a significant hazard.
- A contributing factor was the operator's lack of standardized risk assessment procedures, specifically the failure to perform topographical surveys or obstacle identification for the specific plots being sprayed.
Safety action
- The operator was advised to utilize its Safety Management System (SMS) to proactively identify hazards and obstacles in all active spraying areas.
- Recommendations were made to strengthen crew training regarding operational procedures, specifically emphasizing the necessity of aerial and ground reconnaissance of target areas to identify hazards like trees or power lines.
- The operator should update its proactive hazard identification and risk assessment mechanisms to include obstacle forecasting in the operational manual.