What happened
On July 19, 2023, a private Cessna T210N, registration HK5138G, was conducting a VFR flight from Villavicencio to Guaymaral, Colombia. The aircraft was carrying one pilot and five passengers. During the flight, the aircraft encountered a rapidly developing thunderstorm characterized by intense convective instability.
As the aircraft approached the San Luis de Gaceno area, radar data indicated a sudden and significant descent from approximately 13,500 feet to 11,700 feet. Shortly thereafter, the aircraft's radar signal disappeared. The wreckage was located in a rural field at Finca La Esmeralda. All six fatalities were confirmed at the scene, and the aircraft was destroyed by the impact and subsequent fire.
The investigation
The GRIAA investigation focused on the aircraft's structural integrity and the environmental conditions at the time of the accident. Investigators examined the wreckage, specifically analyzing the fractures in the wing spars and beams. The analysis of the fracture surfaces revealed patterns consistent with overload-induced structural failure, with no evidence of pre-existing corrosion.
Technical reviews of the aircraft's maintenance records showed that the engine, propeller, and airframe were in airworthy condition and compliant with all applicable airworthiness directives. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's flight history and the meteorological conditions, noting that the aircraft had entered Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC) due to the developing storm.