# NTSB ERA13WA089: Piper PA34, Zulia, Colombia, December 12, 2012

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Foreign investigation
- Date: December 12, 2012, 15:30 local (15:30 UTC)
- Place: Zulia, Colombia
- Coordinates: 8.076666, -72.67472 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=8.0767&lon=-72.6747&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Led by another country's authority
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Lead agency: Other
- NTSB case key (mKey): 85829
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA13WA089
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/85829/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85829
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13WA089

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Enroute-cruise: VFR encounter with IMC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401); cases with it: [All aircraft, 392 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401/sequence.md)
- [Enroute-cruise: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md)

## Factual narrative

On December 12, 2012, about 1530 universal coordinated time (1030 local time), a Piper PA-34-200T, Colombian registration HK4477G, was destroyed when it impacted rising mountainous terrain in the vicinity of La Cuchilla, near Zulia, Norte de Santander, Colombia. The Colombian commercial pilot and three passengers were fatally injured. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight was operating under visual flight rules from Camilo Daza International Airport (SKCC), Cucuta, Colombia, to Ernesto Cortissoz International Airport (SKBQ), Barranquilla, Colombia, under Colombian flight regulations. The investigation is under the jurisdiction of the government of Colombia. Further information can be obtained from: Grupo de Investigacion de Accidentes Unidad Administrativa Especial de Aeronautica Civil Avenida Eldorado # 103-23 Bogota, Colombia Telephone: 57-1-2662210 This report is for informational purposes, and only contains information that was provided by the government of Colombia.

## Aircraft

- Registration: HK4477G (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA34 (220T)
- Serial number: 34-7870466
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO360 reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Non-U.S., non-commercial
- Departed: SKCC, Cucuta
- Destination: SKBQ, Barranquilla
- Flight plan: Unknown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; injuries: fatal

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC)

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 26, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85829. 116 KB in all.

- Foreign Accident Statement (item 1, .PDF, 116 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40384000&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Foreign%20Accident%20Statement-Master.PDF

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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