What happened
On a scheduled cargo flight from Villavicencio-La Vanguardia airport to Mitú, an aircraft carrying three crew members and 12 passengers experienced a mechanical failure shortly after departing runway 22. The flight was transporting various goods, including food and 7 tons of fuel stored in 55 drums. During the initial climb phase, the number two engine suffered a loss of power.
In response to the engine failure, the pilot initiated an emergency return to the departure airport and received clearance to land on the same runway. During the final approach, the aircraft's stability was compromised after the flight engineer deactivated the number two engine. The aircraft touched down approximately 1,700 feet beyond the runway threshold.
Due to the late touchdown position, the crew was unable to halt the aircraft within the remaining runway length. The plane overran the pavement and collided with an embankment, which resulted in a post-crash fire. The accident resulted in four fatalities and 11 injuries. The aircraft was completely destroyed in the incident.
Findings
Investigations into the accident indicate that the shutdown of the number two engine during final approach caused the aircraft to become unstable, contributing to the late touchdown and subsequent runway excursion.