Incident
While cruising in bad weather conditions on a flight from San Andrés Island to Medellín, the pilot informed air traffic control about technical problems with the left engine and elected to divert to Planeta Rica Airport. During the approach, the aircraft struck the slope of Mount Los Mellos, located approximately 11 kilometers from the airfield. The impact resulted in the deaths of three crew members and 22 passengers, while 21 other occupants sustained injuries.
Investigation
The official investigation examined the circumstances surrounding the accident. Key factors considered included the pilot's decision to land at an airport that was closed and lacked radio navigation aids, despite the availability of several other airports with good characteristics and suitable weather conditions at the time. Additionally, the pilot was found to have underestimated the severity of the malfunction in the left engine, which had been experiencing intermittent overspeeding and slight coughing due to a carburetor issue. Adverse weather conditions, including thick mist, rain, hail, and an electric storm, prevailed in the area and in the vicinity of Planeta Rica Airport at the time of the accident. Communications were also lacking, preventing the pilot from receiving a briefing on the weather conditions at Planeta Rica or being informed that tower and radio facility services were unavailable due to the airport's operating timetable.
Probable Cause
The accident was attributed to an error of judgement in that the pilot decided to land at an airport which was closed and where no radio aid was available at the time when he was in visual flight at an adequate altitude and close to several airports offering good characteristics and suitable weather conditions. In addition, the pilot underestimated the malfunction that at the time had developed in the left engine. The following contributing factors intervened: - Malfunction in the carburetor of the left engine resulting in intermittent overspeeding and slight coughing, - Adverse weather conditions (namely thick mist, rain, hail and electric storm) which prevailed in the area and in the vicinity of Planeta Rica Airport at the time of the accident, - The lack of communications which prevented the pilot from being briefed on the weather conditions at Planeta Rica Airport and from being informed of the absence of tower or radio facility services owing to the time-table in force at the airport.