What happened
On August 12, 2024, a Britten Norman BN-2B aircraft, registration HK2822, was performing an aeromedical transport mission. The flight originated from Vanguardia (SKVV) via Barrancominas (SKBM) and had recently landed at Guaymaral (SKGY) for a scheduled leg to La Macarena (SKNA).
During the departure from Guaymaral, the aircraft was carrying a crew of two (pilot and co-pilot) and two passengers (a physician and a paramedic). The flight proceeded normally following takeoff, and the crew initiated a left turn for the visual departure. However, while passing through approximately 9,500 feet, the aircraft experienced an abrupt change in attitude, followed by the activation of the stall warning. In an attempt to recover, the pilot applied power and instructed the co-pilot to deploy the flaps immediately. Despite these efforts, the aircraft lost altitude and struck mountainous terrain in the Yerbabuente sector of Chía, Cundinamarca. The impact resulted in two serious injuries and two minor injuries among the four occupants.
The investigation
The Colombian accident investigation authority (DIACC) dispatched three investigators to the site. Field examinations revealed that the aircraft struck the terrain at a high angle and low speed, following a left turn characterized by a loss of lift. The wreckage showed significant structural damage, particularly to the forward section, with destruction extending to the instrument panel.
Investigators noted that the flaps were found deployed at 45 degrees. While the left engine remained attached to the wing structure, the fuel tanks had ruptured, leading to a significant fuel leak. The propeller blades showed deformation consistent with a low-energy impact. The investigation team also recovered the onboard GPS to retrieve flight data for further analysis.
Findings
- The aircraft entered the terrain with a heading of approximately 216 degrees and came to rest at a heading of 176 degrees.
- The impact occurred in a mountainous area with a 26.3-degree slope and tall trees.
- The aircraft experienced a loss of lift during the climb phase, leading to the uncontrolled descent.
- The investigation is ongoing, with pending tasks including technical inspections of the engines and propellers, aerodynamic performance calculations, and an analysis of organizational and medical factors.