What happened
On May 1, 2023, a Cessna U206G, registration HK2803, was conducting a non-scheduled passenger flight from Araracuara to San José del Guaviare. During the flight, the aircraft experienced an initial engine failure, prompting the pilot to declare an emergency. Although the engine appeared to recover temporarily, a second engine failure occurred shortly thereafter. The pilot announced an intention to perform an emergency water landing, but the aircraft instead impacted the dense jungle within the Chiribiquete National Natural Park, near Solano, Caquetá.
The crash resulted in five fatalities among the seven occupants. Following the accident, a massive search and rescue effort known as "Operación Esperanza" was launched. After 39 days in the jungle, one passenger was located alive.
The investigation
The GRIAA investigation focused on the mechanical state of the propulsion system and the quality of the fuel used. Investigators examined the engine and propeller, as well as the aircraft's maintenance history, noting that the aircraft had been involved in a previous accident in 2021. The investigation also scrutinized the fuel storage and handling procedures at the remote aerodromes of Araracuara and Carurú, where the aircraft had last been refueled.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was an engine malfunction involving the propulsion system.
- There was evidence of potential fuel contamination, likely due to the precarious storage conditions at the remote locations where the aircraft was serviced.
- The pilot's decision not to divert to an alternate airfield en route was identified as a contributing factor.
- The investigation noted that the aircraft's maintenance history included a significant repair following a 2021 accident, which required scrutiny regarding component traceability.