Accident
Shortly after takeoff from Sogamoso-Alberto Lleras Camargo Airport, while climbing in limited visibility, the left engine failed. The crew initiated a circuit to return to the airport for an emergency landing. During the maneuver, the aircraft stalled and crashed in a wasteland located 8 kilometers from the airport. The steward was injured; all 17 other occupants were killed.
Crew and Passengers
The crew consisted of pilot Hugo Vergel Peñaranda, copilot Humberto Moreno Mejía, and José Manuel Cifuentes. Passengers included José María Orduz Sierra, Judit Niño Monroy, Tobias Niño Bonilla, Germán Hernández, José Efraín Rivera Cabrera, Víctor Manuel Niño Colmenares, Martha Parrado de García, Roberto García, Flor Alba Pérez de Granados and her son N.N., Noé Martínez Flórez, Héctor Alirio Vega Pérez, María del Carmen Vega Pérez, Manuel Abella Chaparro, and Reinaldo Gómez.
Probable Cause
The investigation determined the primary cause was an inadequate correction of a previously reported mechanical fault: oil was observed leaking into the left engine turbine section, and the appropriate corrective technical action was not taken. A possible contributing factor was a material failure of the front bearing of the turbine drive shaft and accessory section, which caused the shaft to break and led to total failure of the left engine immediately after takeoff, resulting in loss of control during the turn to return to the runway.