What happened
At 15:57, a DC-3 departed from runway 03 at Barrancobermeja. Shortly after the takeoff roll reached 250 meters, the aircraft began drifting left of the centerline before swerving toward the right. By the 490-meter mark, the aircraft had exited the runway, crossed the centerline again, and moved across the left-hand safety strip. In an attempt to avoid a wind indicator, the pilot steered the plane into the parking apron.
While attempting to realign with the main runway by applying full power, the aircraft's starboard wing made contact with the apron surface, causing the plane to bounce multiple times. The pilot then attempted a second takeoff from the apron area. After traveling approximately 258 meters on this second attempt, the aircraft failed to achieve sufficient lift. During this maneuver, the wingtip struck two helicopters on the ground, including a Hiller UH-12, registration HK-781E. The tail skid and cone also collided with a fuel tank located at the apron's edge. The sequence concluded as the aircraft performed a 180-degree cartwheel to the port side, eventually landing in a depression 30 meters deep, situated 120 meters from the northern boundary of the apron.
Findings
Investigation into the accident identified poor flight technique and overcontrol by the pilot as the primary cause of the excursion. The pilot's decision to attempt a takeoff from the apron rather than the active runway was also cited as a significant error in judgment. Additionally, the aircraft had been dispatched with a center of gravity that exceeded the aft limit for takeoff under maximum load conditions at this specific airport.