Cessna 172S and Cessna 150M accident near Santander, CO, April 12, 2015
On April 12, 2015 at about 7:15 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 172S (HK5064G) and Cessna 150M (HK1912G), were involved in the same accident near Santander (Barrancabermea/ Yariguies Air airport). 3 people were killed.
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
- April 12, 2015 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Santander, Colombia · Barrancabermea/ Yariguies Air · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 172S · all 172Ss on the register
- Registration
- HK5064G · no longer on the register · serial 172S10600
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · non-U.S. private rules
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 150M · all 150Ms on the register
- Registration
- HK1912G · no longer on the register · serial C15078379
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · non-U.S. private rules
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 172S preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On April 12, 2015, about 1915 coordinated universal time, a Cessna 172S, Colombian registration HK5064G, and a Cessna 150M, Colombian registration HK1912G, were substantially damaged after impacting mountainous terrain in the vicinity of the Serrania Los Cobardes Mountain in Santander, San Vicente de Chucurí. The flight instructor and student pilot in HK-5064G and the student pilot in HK-1912G were fatally injured. The flights had originated from Barrancabermeja/Yariguies Airport (SKEJ), Barrancabermeja, Colombia about 1900, was destined for Palonegro International Airport (SKBG), Giron Colombia, and was conducted under Colombian flight regulations.According to preliminary information from the Government of Colombia, the flights were scheduled to conduct a formation training flight. About 15 minutes after departure, neither airplane responded to air traffic control tower radio calls. Both airplanes were located about 45 minutes after their departure in mountainous terrain about 7,600 feet above mean sea level and about 300 yards from each other. The investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Government of Colombia. Further information can be obtained from: Grupo de Investigación de Accidentes Unidad Administrativa Especial Aeronáutica Civil Avenida El dorado 103-23 Nuevo Edificio Aerocivil Bogotá, Colombia Telephone: (57-1) 2962138 Fax: (57-1) 2962203 This report is for informational purposes and contains only information released by 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 NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 150M preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On April 12, 2015, about 1915 coordinated universal time, a Cessna 172S, Colombian registration HK5064G, and a Cessna 150M, Colombian registration HK1912G, were substantially damaged after impacting mountainous terrain in the vicinity of the Serrania Los Cobardes Mountain in Santander, San Vicente de Chucurí. The flight instructor and student pilot in HK-5064G and the student pilot in HK-1912G were fatally injured. The flights had originated from Barrancabermeja/Yariguies Airport (SKEJ), Barrancabermeja, Colombia about 1900, was destined for Palonegro International Airport (SKBG), Giron Colombia, and was conducted under Colombian flight regulations.According to preliminary information from the Government of Colombia, the flights were scheduled to conduct a formation training flight. About 15 minutes after departure, neither airplane responded to air traffic control tower radio calls. Both airplanes were located about 45 minutes after their departure in mountainous terrain about 7,600 feet above mean sea level and about 300 yards from each other. The investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Government of Colombia. Further information can be obtained from: Grupo de Investigación de Accidentes Unidad Administrativa Especial Aeronáutica Civil Avenida El dorado 103-23 Nuevo Edificio Aerocivil Bogotá, Colombia Telephone: (57-1) 2962138 Fax: (57-1) 2962203 This report is for informational purposes and contains only information released by 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 for the Cessna 172S from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during enroute (cruise) defining event
Flight instructor
- Injury: fatal
Dual student
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Not recorded
The flight
- Departed from: SKEJ
- Destination: SKBG
- 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 |
The factual record for the Cessna 150M from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during enroute (cruise) defining event
Pilot
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Not recorded
The flight
- Departed from: SKEJ Barrancaberneja at 11:00 pm
- Destination: SKBG Giron
- Flight plan: not recorded
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check 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.