Background
At 0615 local time, an Avianca DC-3 operating as flight AV626 departed Villavicencio-La Vanguardia Airport from Runway 04. The aircraft was bound for Orocué with planned intermediate stops at Yopal and Trinidad. On board were 14 passengers and 3 crew members. The crew consisted of pilot Manuel E. Medina Herrera, copilot Julio Varona Matta, and flight engineer Gustavo Amortegui.
Collision
Shortly after 0630 local time, while cruising in excellent weather conditions, a second Avianca DC-3, registered HK-1341, departed from the same airport approximately five minutes after the first. According to the investigation, the pilot of HK-1341 apparently attempted to reach the first aircraft. During this maneuver, the two airplanes collided. Both entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed on Mount Las Polomas near the village of Villapacelly, about 71 kilometers northeast of Villavicencio-La Vanguardia Airport. Both airplanes were totally destroyed, and all 38 occupants were killed.
Aircraft
The first aircraft, operating flight AV626, was a DC-3 bearing registration HK-107. The second aircraft was also a DC-3, registered HK-1341. Both were operated by Avianca.
Probable Cause
The official investigation attributed the accident to the following factors:
- Lack of discipline on part of the pilot of HK-1341 when performing a reaching maneuver without observing the requirements established for such maneuver in the Aeronautical Regulations Manual.
- The flight crews were not in optimal psycho-physical condition to perform their duties, due to the minimal or almost nonexistent horizontal rest they enjoyed before starting their flight activities, despite having the regulatory rest hours provided by the company.
- The pilot-in-command of DC-3 HK-107, who had the right of way during the flight, had no involvement whatsoever in the collision and subsequent accidents of both aircraft, as he was complying with the regulations when having the right of way.
No further causal factors were identified by the investigation.