Aircraft crash in mountainous terrain near Panama-Colombia border

4 fatalities • Acandí, Colombia • Flight

A survey aircraft crashed into a wooded mountainside during an anti-narcotics mission, resulting in four fatalities.

What happened

During an evening anti-narcotics survey mission, an aircraft traveling near the border of Panama and Colombia struck trees and crashed into a mountain slope. The flight originated from Panama City-Marcos A. Gelabert Airport. While the aircraft was in the cruise phase of flight, it impacted the forested terrain, which subsequently led to a post-crash fire.

There were six people on board at the time of the accident, consisting of two pilots and four passengers. The occupants included five individuals from the United States and one Panamanian national. The impact resulted in four fatalities among the passengers, while both pilots sustained serious injuries.

Findings

  • The aircraft struck trees during its cruise along the international border.
  • The collision caused the aircraft to crash on a wooded mountain slope.
  • A fire broke out following the impact with the terrain.

Probable cause

The aircraft collided with trees during the cruise phase of flight, leading to a crash on a mountain slope.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2013-10-05 De Havilland DHC-8-200 (Dash-8) accident near Acandí, Colombia?

A survey aircraft crashed into a wooded mountainside during an anti-narcotics mission, resulting in four fatalities.

Were there any fatalities in the 2013-10-05 De Havilland DHC-8-200 (Dash-8) accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 4 fatalities.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2013-10-05 involved a De Havilland DHC-8-200 (Dash-8), registration N356PH, operated by Airborne Services Global, at Acandí, Colombia.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The aircraft collided with trees during the cruise phase of flight, leading to a crash on a mountain slope.

Loading the flight search…