Aircraft Crash During Approach to Carepa-Los Cedros Airport (HK-4275X)

Approach

Following an uneventful flight from Bogotá-El Dorado Airport, the crew began the approach to Carepa-Los Cedros Airport. The copilot was acting as pilot-in-command during the approach. On final approach, the captain took over control of the aircraft and continued the descent. The Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS) alarm then sounded seven times. For unknown reasons, the captain did not respond to the GPWS warnings and took no corrective actions.

Accident

On short final, at a height of approximately 200 feet, one of the engines failed. The crew did not follow the published procedures for engine failure, causing the aircraft to stall and subsequently crash about 100 metres short of runway 33. The accident resulted in two passengers receiving serious injuries, while five other occupants were killed.

Probable Cause

The official investigation identified the following findings:

• Poor judgement of distance, speed, altitude and the obstacle clearance during the final approach,
• Attempting the operation beyond the experience and the high level of competence required by the crew,
• Encountering unforeseen circumstances exceeded the capacity of the crew,
• Diverting attention on the operation of the aircraft,
• Lack of approved procedures, directives and instructions,
• The absence of CRM procedures and low situational awareness,
• The lack of evasive action when the ground proximity warning system's alarm sounded,
• The sudden loss of power in one of the engines,
• The wrong use of the world's major flight to maintain directional control,
• The activation of the Stall Avoidance System (SAS) on the control column, moving it forward when the plane was at low altitude.