Cessna 402B accident near Choco, CO, November 17, 2015
On November 17, 2015 at about 3:50 pm local time, a Cessna 402B, registered HK4981G, was destroyed in an accident during initial climb near Choco (Acandi airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under non-U.S. private rules. 2 people were killed and 8 people were seriously injured. 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
- November 17, 2015 · about 3:50 pm local time
- Place
- Choco, Colombia · Acandi · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed and 8 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 402B · all 402Bs on the register
- Registration
- HK4981G · no longer on the register · serial 402B1042
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · non-U.S. private rules
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On November 17, 2015, about 1550 coordinated universal time, a Cessna 402B, Colombian registration HK4981G, was destroyed when it descended and impacted the ground in a residential area, during takeoff from Acandi Airport (SKAD), Choco, Colombia. The pilot and one passenger were fatally injured. Eight passengers were seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight that was conducted under Colombian flight regulations, and destined for Enrique Olaya Herrera Airport (SKMD), Medellin, Colombia. The investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Government of Colombia. Further information can be obtained from: Grupo Investigación de Accidentes Unidad Administrativa Especial de Aeronáutica Civil Av. Eldorado #103-23 Bogota, Colombia Fax: (57-1) 296-2013 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 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of control in flight during initial climb defining event
Pilot
- Seat: unk
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Landing gear: retractable
The flight
- Departed from: SKAD Choco at 3:50 pm
- Destination: SKMD Medellin
- Runway 35
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 8 |
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.