Accident Details
On 29 May 2025, a Cessna A188B agricultural aircraft, registration HK1817, was involved in a ramp accident at El Tesoro Airstrip (SQTJ) in Trinidad, Casanare, Colombia. The aircraft had been conducting aerial spraying operations in the area. At the time of the accident, the engine was running at idle power while the aircraft was being refueled on the platform. The pilot was in the cockpit, awaiting a visual signal from a company ground handler who was inspecting the fuel tank.
Events Leading to Accident
After completing four spraying flights, the aircraft landed and taxied to the platform. The company ground handler began a 360-degree inspection, including checking the left main fuel tank. Meanwhile, a non-aviation worker employed by the farmer (termed "application manager") approached the left side of the aircraft, likely to speak with the ground handler. This worker was not part of the operator's crew but was responsible for preparing chemical mixtures. The pilot heard a loud impact followed by an engine acceleration. The aircraft moved a few meters before the pilot shut down the engine and evacuated. The ground handler was uninjured, but the application manager had been struck by the rotating propeller.
Injuries and Damage
The ground worker sustained fatal injuries. The aircraft suffered minor damage: small indentations on the tips of the propeller blades. No other damage was reported. The pilot, the sole occupant, was uninjured. Post-accident toxicological tests on the pilot were negative for alcohol and drugs.
Probable Cause
The investigation determined that the accident resulted from the impact of the rotating propeller blades with ground personnel during refueling operations, and the unsafe act of non-aviation personnel deliberately entering the critical area while the aircraft was running.