What happened
On November 19, 2025, two Piper PA-28-181 aircraft, registered as HK5220G and HK5298G, were conducting training flights from Aeródromo Flaminio Suárez Camacho (SKGY) in Guaymaral, Bogotá D.C. Both aircraft belonged to the same flight instruction center and were operating with student pilots on board for runway work on Runway 11.
The pilot of HK5298G had already completed two full circuits and touch-and-go maneuvers when they initiated a third approach. At 08:31 local time, this aircraft performed a touch-and-go. Shortly after, at 08:32, the pilot of HK5220G took off for their first circuit. Air traffic control (ATC) instructed HK5298G to extend its downwind leg and fly a wide right-hand base leg, while instructing HK5220G to maintain a standard circuit.
According to ADS-B data, at 08:36:47 local time, the two aircraft converged with crossing headings. The pilot of HK5298G reported seeing HK5220G pass overhead with minimal clearance. Following the near-collision, both pilots landed safely without incident. No injuries or damage to the aircraft were reported.
The investigation
The Colombian aviation safety authority, DIACC (under Aerocivil), launched a serious incident investigation after being notified by the operator. Investigators reviewed ADS-B flight data from both aircraft, which confirmed that HK5298G was on its fourth touch-and-go maneuver while HK5220G was approaching for its first.
The data indicated that at the moment of closest approach, HK5298G was at 8,950 feet with a heading of 018°, while HK5220G was at 8,875 feet with a heading of 358°. This resulted in a vertical separation of only 75 feet. The investigation is ongoing, with authorities seeking radar traces and verifying if additional non-volatile GPS data loggers were present to confirm precise altitudes and headings. Interviews with the student pilots and ATC personnel are also part of the process.
Findings
The preliminary analysis highlights a loss of situational awareness or spatial disorientation during simultaneous circuit operations in the training environment. The convergence occurred while one aircraft was executing an extended base leg and the other a standard base leg, leading to a conflict in the traffic pattern. The investigation aims to determine systemic factors contributing to this close encounter.