Bell 206 accident near Vereda Galan, CO, February 18, 2011
On February 18, 2011 at about 4:15 am local time, a Bell 206 (helicopter), registered HK4594, was destroyed in an accident during enroute (climb to cruise) near Vereda Galan. It was a business flight under non-U.S. private rules. 4 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 18, 2011 · about 4:15 am local time
- Place
- Vereda Galan, Colombia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206 B · all 206s on the register
- Registration
- HK4594 · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · non-U.S. private rules
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On February 18, 2011, about 0415 universal coordinated time, a Bell 206-B, Colombian registration HK-4594, operated by Heliservice LTDA, crashed in mountainous terrain near Vereda Galan, Colombia, and was consumed by a post crash fire. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed in the area at the time of the accident. The flight departed from Bucaramanga, Colombia, and was traveling to Cesar, Colombia. The helicopter was destroyed and the Colombian certificated pilot and three passengers were killed. This investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Government of Colombia. Any further information can be obtained from: Unidad Administrativa Especial de Aeronautica Civil Aeropuerto Internacional El Dorado Bogota, Colombia Telephone: 571.425.1000 This report is for informational purposes only, and contains information released by or obtained for the Government of Colombia.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during enroute (climb to cruise) defining event
Crew member
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Landing gear: fixed
- Not recorded
The flight
- Departed from: Bucaramanga
- Destination: Cesar
- Flight plan: not recorded
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.