Cessna A188A HK1468 Agricultural Spraying Accident in Magdalena, Colombia

Incident Overview and Flight Details On August 12, 2024, a Cessna A188A agricultural aircraft, registration HK1468, was conducting a visual flight rules (VFR) mission to spray banana crops in the Zona Bananera region of Magdalena, Colombia. The aircraft departed from the Orihueca aerodrome (SQOH) at 06:30 local time (11:30 UTC). The pilot had completed a pre-flight inspection and the aircraft was fueled with 45 gallons of 100/130 aviation fuel and loaded with 180 gallons of fungicide. Immediately following takeoff, the aircraft experienced a loss of power. The pilot initiated an emergency landing in a nearby banana plantation. During the landing sequence, the aircraft struck several palm trees before coming to a stop. The pilot evacuated the aircraft independently and sustained minor injuries. A post-impact fire subsequently consumed approximately 80% of the aircraft's structure, leaving it completely incinerated. The accident occurred during daylight hours at Finca Iberia, a property adjacent to the departure aerodrome.