What happened
On October 3, 2025, a Piper PA-34 200T (registration HK4785) was performing an air ambulance mission, transporting medical personnel and a patient from La Macarena to Villavicencio, Colombia. After landing at Vanguardia Airport (SKVV) on runway 05, the aircraft was in the deceleration phase with its weight on the wheels and all landing gear fully extended.
As the aircraft approached taxiway Charlie, the nose landing gear unexpectedly retracted without any prior warning, sound, or indication to the crew. This sudden retraction caused the nose section and both engines to strike the runway surface. The pilot performed an emergency engine shutdown procedure, and the aircraft continued to slide approximately 100 meters along the runway before coming to a complete stop.
All four occupants—including the two pilots, medical staff, and passengers—evacuated the aircraft without assistance. The aircraft sustained significant structural damage to the nose section and engine mounts, and both propellers were damaged due to ground impact.
The investigation
The GRIAA investigation noted that the aircraft was moved to the operator's hangar for maintenance before investigators could perform an initial on-site evidence collection. Field investigators examined the runway for debris and impact marks, and inspected the nose gear assembly, the forward compartment, and the hydraulic system.
Investigators have begun disassembling the nose gear components and the forward fuselage structure to identify the mechanical or hydraulic trigger for the retraction. The investigation also involves reviewing airport security footage, analyzing aeronautical communications, and conducting a metallurgical and hydraulic fluid analysis of the nose gear system.