Piper PA-31-350 accident near Araracuara, CO, September 6, 2014
On September 6, 2014 at about 8:05 pm local time, a Piper PA-31-350, registered HK4755, was destroyed in an accident near Araracuara (Araracuara Airport). It was flown under non-U.S. commercial rules. 10 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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
- September 6, 2014 · about 8:05 pm local time
- Place
- Araracuara, Colombia · Araracuara Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 10 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-31-350 · all PA-31-350s on the register
- Registration
- HK4755 · no longer on the register · serial 31-7952044
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight · non-U.S. commercial rules
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On June 6, 2014, about 2005 Universal Coordinated Time (UTC), a Piper PA-31-350, Columbian registration HK4755, operated by Latinoamericana De Servicios Aereos – Laser S.A.S, was destroyed, when it impacted terrain, and was subject to a postimpact fire, shortly after takeoff from Araracuara Aerodrome (SKAC), Araracuara, Columbia. The pilot, copilot, and 8 passengers were fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the commercial air taxi flight destined for Gustavo Artunduaga Paredes Airport (SKFL), Florencia, Columbia. This investigation is under jurisdiction of the Republic of Columbia. This report is for informational purposes only and contains information released by the Republic of Columbia. For further information contact: Grupo Investigación de Accidentes Unidad Administrativa Especial de Aeronáutica Civil Av. Eldorado 103-15 Nuevo Edificio Aerocivil Bogota, Colombia Telephone: (57-1) 425-1000 Fax: (57-1) 296-2203
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
Pilot
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
Co-pilot
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 7,000 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Lycoming TIO-540-J2BD (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming LTIO-540-J2BD (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: SKAC Araracuara at 8:05 pm
- Destination: SKFL Florencia
- Flight plan: not recorded
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 8 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
1 document, released by the NTSB on September 16, 2014. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Foreign Accident Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.