What happened
On May 31, 2023, at approximately 08:30 local time, an Aero Agro AA-100 aircraft, registration HK5337, crashed into a sugarcane plantation at the Fontana Rosa farm in Jamundí, Valle del Cauca, Colombia. The aircraft was performing specialized agricultural spraying operations.
The flight sequence began earlier that morning when the aircraft departed La Esmeralda airfield (SKDD) under visual flight rules (VFR). After an initial return to base due to unfavorable weather, the pilot conducted a second flight to the Egipto estate and subsequently moved to Cachimbalito airfield (SKAH) to refuel and replenish chemical supplies. Following the third departure from SKAH at 08:05, the aircraft was flying toward the Novillera estate when contact was lost. The aircraft eventually struck the terrain at a high angle and high velocity, causing substantial structural damage to the airframe and the death of the pilot.
The investigation
The Colombian accident investigation authority (DIACC) examined several hypotheses to determine the cause of the impact. Investigators analyzed the aircraft's flight path, the engine and propeller condition, and the pilot's medical and professional history. The investigation also reviewed the impact dynamics, noting that the high energy of the collision rendered the crash non-survivable and caused the disintegration of the aircraft's GPS unit, preventing the recovery of flight parameter data.
Investigators evaluated several potential scenarios, including engine failure, flight control malfunction, pilot incapacitation, distraction, and fuel exhaustion. While the physical evidence confirmed a high-speed, high-angle impact, the investigation could not definitively confirm which specific factor triggered the loss of control.
Findings
- The aircraft impacted the ground with high energy and a high angle of attack.
- The primary cause was a possible loss of control in flight during agricultural spraying operations.
- The investigation found no conclusive evidence to confirm specific triggers such as mechanical failure, pilot incapacitation, or fuel contamination.
- The impact was so severe that the pilot's protective helmet was ineffective against the resulting trauma.