What happened
A twin-engine aircraft was operating a charter service from San José del Guaviare toward Villavicencio, transporting three crew members and 11 passengers. During the cruise phase of the flight, at an altitude of approximately 8,500 feet, the aircraft experienced a significant fuel leak in the left engine.
In response to the mechanical failure, the crew attempted to secure the engine; however, they were unsuccessful in feathering the propeller. This failure led to a loss of airspeed and altitude. As the crew attempted to perform an emergency landing, the aircraft entered a stall and lost controllability. The plane impacted a palm plantation, where a post-crash fire broke out. The twin-engine aircraft was completely destroyed, and there were 14 fatalities among the occupants.
Findings
- The primary cause of the engine failure was a critical fuel leak.
- The inability to feather the propeller following the engine failure contributed to the loss of flight stability and subsequent stall.