What happened
On July 28, 2026, at approximately 06:50 local time (1150 UTC), a Cessna A188B registered as HK1750 was conducting agricultural spraying operations in the Zona Bananera municipality of Magdalena, Colombia. The aircraft had taken off from the La Amalia airstrip and was positioned over a farm known as Santa Rosalía, located 3.23 nautical miles to the southeast.
According to the pilot's account, while executing a right-hand turn for the third pass of the spraying pattern, the aircraft encountered a sudden crosswind gust. This caused a rapid loss of airspeed and altitude, leading to an aerodynamic stall. The pilot applied maximum engine power but was unable to recover control. In an emergency response, the pilot discharged the remaining agrochemical load from the sprayer system. Despite these actions, the aircraft continued to descend and struck the canopies of several trees before impacting the ground at a high angle and speed.
The pilot cut all electrical circuits in the cockpit to prevent a post-impact fire and successfully evacuated the aircraft unaided. The pilot sustained minor injuries and was later tested for alcohol and drugs, with negative results. No fatalities were reported.
The investigation
The Colombian aviation safety authority (GRIAA) initiated an investigation into the occurrence. Key elements of the inquiry included:
- Flight Reconstruction: Analysis of GPS data to reconstruct the flight path prior to the impact.
- Meteorological Assessment: Review of satellite imagery (water vapor and infrared channels) confirmed that no convective weather systems were present or evolving in the area at the time of the accident, supporting the pilot's report of visual flight conditions.
- Aircraft Condition: Inspection revealed significant structural damage to the fuselage, wings, landing gear, and engine. The sprayer system components, including the hopper and booms, were fractured. The aircraft remained largely intact on the ground with no evidence of pre-impact breakup or fire/explosion.
- Pilot Qualifications: Records confirmed the pilot held a valid commercial license, medical certificate, and type rating for the Cessna A188B. The pilot had 534 total flight hours, including 292 on this specific model. The aircraft's maintenance records were current up to July 18, 2026.
Findings
The preliminary findings indicate that the accident was caused by the loss of control due to a crosswind gust during a low-altitude turn, which resulted in an unrecoverable stall. Contributing factors included:
- The operational environment of low-altitude agricultural spraying, which limits reaction time and recovery space.
- The sudden change in aerodynamic forces induced by the wind shear/gust.
The investigation noted that the aircraft was not equipped with flight data or cockpit voice recorders, as they are not mandatory for this type of operation. GPS logs were the primary source for trajectory analysis.