Aircraft crash in Medellín resulting in eight fatalities

8 fatalities • Medellín-Enrique Olaya Herrera, Colombia • Takeoff (climb)

A twin-engine charter flight crashed into a residence in Medellín, Colombia, shortly after takeoff, resulting in the deaths of all eight people on board.

What happened

A charter flight operated by Grupo San Germán Express was performing a transport mission from Medellín-Enrique Olaya Herrera Airport to Pizarro, Chocó, when the accident occurred. The twin engine airplane was carrying a group of six passengers and two crew members at the time of the incident.

During the initial climb phase from Runway 02, the crew experienced an engine failure and subsequently notified air traffic control of an emergency situation. Following the loss of power, the aircraft began a left turn and lost sufficient altitude to impact a residential structure in the Belén Rosales district. The impact site was located approximately 523 meters west of the runway 20 threshold and 2,325 meters from the departure point. The collision caused the aircraft to burst into flames, leading to the total destruction of both the plane and the house. There were 8 fatalities recorded, as all occupants of the aircraft perished in the crash.

Findings

The primary factor leading to the loss of control was the failure of one of the aircraft's engines during the climb.

Probable cause

The aircraft suffered an engine failure during the initial climb, leading to a loss of altitude and a subsequent collision with a building.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2022-11-21 Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain accident near Medellín-Enrique Olaya Herrera, Colombia?

A twin-engine charter flight crashed into a residence in Medellín, Colombia, shortly after takeoff, resulting in the deaths of all eight people on board.

Were there any fatalities in the 2022-11-21 Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 8 fatalities.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2022-11-21 involved a Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain, registration HK-5121, operated by Aeropaca, at Medellín-Enrique Olaya Herrera, Colombia.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The aircraft suffered an engine failure during the initial climb, leading to a loss of altitude and a subsequent collision with a building.

Loading the flight search…

What you can do on Flight Finder

  • Search flights between any two airports with live fares.
  • By aircraft — pick a plane model (e.g. Boeing 787, Airbus A350) and see every route it flies from your origin.
  • Route map — click any airport worldwide to explore its destinations, or draw a radius to find nearby airports.
  • Global aviation safety — aviation accident database, 40,000+ records since 1980, with map and rankings by aircraft and operator.
  • NTSB safety feed — recent U.S. aviation accidents and incidents from the official NTSB CAROL database, updated daily.