Synopsis
On 14 July 2023, at 08:35 local time, a Cessna A188B, registration HK2013, was performing an agricultural spraying flight over a rice crop field at Finca La Machaca, Vereda Boquerón, approximately 2.3 nautical miles from the Nueva Canaima airstrip in Paratebueno, Cundinamarca, Colombia. The flight was conducted under visual meteorological conditions with daylight.
Accident Sequence
According to the pilot's statement, the first three spraying passes were completed without incident. While preparing for the fourth pass, the pilot initiated a left 45° turn followed by a right 270° turn at approximately 100 knots indicated airspeed to align with the field. During this maneuver, the aircraft experienced a sudden loss of altitude and entered a stall attitude. The pilot deployed flaps and applied left rudder, but the aircraft continued to descend in a gentle right turn. Control inputs were ineffective, and the aircraft struck trees at coordinates N 04°31’46.07’’ – W 073°30’93.03’’ before impacting the ground inverted, coming to rest on a heading of 242° approximately 800 meters from the crop field.
Aircraft and Pilot Information
The aircraft was a Cessna A188B (serial number C18802868T, manufactured in 1977) with a total flight time of 9,583.4 hours. The engine was a Continental IO-520-D (serial 1000601) with 3,729.9 hours. The last 100-hour inspection was performed on 1 June 2023. The pilot held a Commercial Pilot License with agricultural aviation endorsement, had 700.4 total flight hours, including 150 hours on the Cessna 188, and a valid medical certificate. The pilot was uninjured and evacuated the aircraft unaided.
Damage and Other Consequences
The aircraft sustained substantial structural damage to the wings, empennage, and cabin. Minor environmental damage occurred from the chemical product used in the spraying.
Probable Cause
The investigation determined the probable cause as: Collision of the aircraft with trees after entering a stall, by exceeding the maximum angle of attack during a tight procedural turn at low altitude, when the pilot was maneuvering to face the field and perform a product application over the crop.
Safety Recommendations
Two safety recommendations were issued by the DIACC. Details of the recommendations were not provided in the report.