Accident Overview
A twin-engine aircraft operating a domestic flight from Cali-Alfonso Bonilla Aragón Airport to Tolú with seven passengers and one pilot experienced engine problems shortly after departing Tolú. The pilot had decided to reroute to Montería-Los Garzones Airport. Following the engine issues, the pilot chose to perform an emergency landing in a pasture. During the landing roll, the right wing struck obstacles, causing the nose gear to collapse. The aircraft came to rest near Purísima de la Concepción, approximately 10 kilometers east of Tolú. The pilot sustained no injuries, but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Investigation Findings
The official investigation determined that the probable cause of the accident was inadequate fuel management and incomplete execution of procedures by the pilot. Specifically, the pilot failed to activate the fuel supply from the external tanks (OUTBD) to the internal tanks (INBD) in time for both engines, resulting in fuel starvation and loss of engine power. Contributing factors included poor flight planning—the pilot did not consider the minimum fuel required and did not comply with domestic fuel requirements—and a loss of situational awareness, as the pilot did not follow standard operating procedures.