Preliminary Report: Emergency Landing of Piper PA-34 220T HK4754 in Colombia

Incident Overview and Flight History On 9 February 2026, a Piper PA-34 220T with registration HK4754 was operating a non-scheduled commercial air ambulance flight. The aircraft was en route from Popayán (SKPP) to Cali (SKCL) with four people on board: two crew members and two occupants. The flight departed Popayán at 09:20 local time (HLC) and was cleared to descend for an approach to runway 02 at SKCL. ## Loss of Power and Emergency Declaration During the descent, the aircraft was stabilized at 5,700 feet with an approximate manifold pressure of 25 inches. The crew perceived abnormal vibrations and adjusted power to 30 inches to maintain altitude. Approximately six nautical miles from the runway threshold, an abrupt pull was followed by a loss of power in the left engine. Although some engine parameters remained in the normal range, the exhaust gas temperature and fuel flow for the affected engine dropped to zero. The crew attempted to feather the propeller but was unsuccessful. Given the engine condition, descent rate, and remaining distance, the crew declared an emergency. ## Impact and Aftermath The aircraft made an emergency landing in an unprepared field, specifically a sugarcane crop, 4.9 nautical miles from the threshold of runway 02 at SKCL. The aircraft impacted the ground with both engines shut down and the landing gear retracted. It slid on its lower structure for approximately 43.62 meters before coming to rest. All four occupants evacuated the aircraft by their own means and were reported uninjured. ## Damage and Investigation Findings Preliminary damage to the aircraft included sudden stoppage of both engines, bent propeller blades on both engines, structural damage to the nose, and deformation of the lower structure from front to rear. The propellers showed evidence of non-rotation and low inertia at impact. The investigation noted that the high rate of descent was more consistent with performance degradation, drag, or energy management issues than with meteorological factors, as wind conditions were reported as practically null.