What happened
On April 23, 2026, a Piper PA-601-P with registration HK3641G departed from Aeropuerto Vanguardia in Villavicencio, Colombia, bound for Aeródromo de la Primavera. Shortly after takeoff, the pilot observed a flash of fire from the left engine and requested permission to return to the airport due to suspected powerplant malfunction. Although air traffic control authorized a return via runway 05, the pilot executed a turn and initiated the final approach on runway 23.
During the landing roll, the nose gear collapsed, causing the aircraft to tilt and slide along its right side. This maneuver resulted in an abrupt stop of the right engine (No. 2). The pilot successfully evacuated the aircraft without sustaining injuries. The incident was reported to the Colombian aviation authority, Aerocivil, and the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which assigned a representative to the investigation.
The investigation
Field investigators inspected the damage sustained by the right engine following the abrupt stop and documented structural impacts on the airframe. Photographs revealed fire damage to the turbocharger system tubes, engine covers, and cowling, as well as impact marks on the propeller blades of the right engine.
During the field phase, several regulatory irregularities were identified. The pilot could not demonstrate current proficiency for this specific aircraft type, as no valid flight check was presented, and their medical license was suspended by the aviation authority. Additionally, the aircraft did not have a valid maintenance contract with an approved organization (OMA). It was also determined that the filed flight plan contained information for a different pilot than the one who actually operated the flight.
Findings
The immediate cause of the accident was the collapse of the nose gear during the landing roll. Contributing factors included the initial in-flight engine issue on the left side, which necessitated the return to field, and subsequent regulatory non-compliance regarding pilot certification and aircraft maintenance status. The investigation is ongoing, with pending tasks including a detailed analysis of maintenance records for inactivity, verification of the pilot's medical license status, and reporting the identity substitution in the flight plan to relevant authorities.