What happened
During the takeoff roll at Medellín-Enrique Olaya Herrera Airport, a three-engine Ford operated by SACO began to swerve on the runway. The aircraft lost directional control and veered off the paved surface to the left. It collided with a Ford 5 operated by SCADTA, which was taxiing along the runway for departure at the time of the incident.
Both aircraft caught fire and were destroyed. All seven occupants aboard the SCADTA aircraft were killed. On board the SACO aircraft, 10 people were killed and three others sustained injuries. The crew consisted of the pilot and one copilot. The passenger manifest included several notable individuals, though specific names are not listed in this factual summary to maintain neutrality regarding private individuals.
Findings
The investigation board concluded that the accident was caused by a loss of control during the takeoff run. Strong lateral winds combined with irregularities in the runway surface led to the left main gear leaving the ground before rotation. This condition contributed to the aircraft veering off the runway. The captain attempted to maintain directional control, but these efforts were unsuccessful.