Accident Details
On an unspecified date, an aircraft departed Bahía Solano at 1020 local time on a non-scheduled domestic flight to Quibdó. The crew consisted of 4 members, and there were probably 36 passengers on board. After departure, no radio station received any communication from the aircraft, and no departure information or position reports were obtained. The accident occurred at 1045 local time. Four days later, the wreckage was located approximately 31 miles from the airport on Bonito Peak, at an elevation of 2,400 feet. The aircraft was destroyed, and all 40 occupants were killed.
Occupants and Loading
The aircraft's certificate permitted a maximum of 31 persons, including crew. However, the believed occupancy at the time of the accident was 4 crew, 29 passengers, 5 infants in arms, and 2 children, totaling 40 occupants. The Colombian Civil Aeronautics Department had imposed a weight limit of 11,431 kg for all aircraft of this type used for passenger transport in Colombia. At the time of the accident, the aircraft's weight was approximately 12,002 kg, which is 571 kg in excess of the allowed limit.
Pilot Duties
Since Bahía Solano is a fourth category airport, the pilot-in-command was required to complete a weight and balance manifest. This was not done.
Probable Cause
The official investigation determined that the cause of the accident was not determined. Possible contributing factors were weather conditions at the time and an error of the pilot in flying at an altitude unsuited to the route.