On February 5, 1972, a Fairchild F27 (registration HK-1139) operated by TAC Colombia - Transportes Aéreos del Cesar was involved in an aviation accident near Valledupar, Colombia during landing or approach. 19 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: controlled flight into terrain due to a premature descent. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
An aircraft struck a mountain during descent to Valledupar-Alfonso Lopez Airport in limited visibility. All 19 occupants were killed. Official findings cite controlled flight into terrain due to a premature descent.
Accident Description
The aircraft was on approach to Valledupar-Alfonso Lopez Airport when the crew began descending. At the time, visibility was limited. While descending, the airplane collided with a mountainside located several dozen kilometers from the airport. The wreckage was discovered three days after the accident. All 19 individuals on board died as a result of the impact.
Investigation and Probable Cause
The official investigation into the accident determined that the occurrence was a controlled flight into terrain. The probable cause, as stated in the official findings, is that the accident resulted from a controlled flight into terrain due to a premature descent. The premature descent meant the aircraft descended too early during the approach, causing it to be at an altitude insufficient to clear the mountainous terrain.
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