Cessna A188 accident near Puerto Lopez, CO, July 2, 2016
On July 2, 2016 at about 6:10 pm local time, a Cessna A188, registered HK1398, was destroyed in an accident during maneuvering near Puerto Lopez (Pista Nueva York airport). It was flown under non-U.S. commercial rules. 1 person was 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
- July 2, 2016 · about 6:10 pm local time
- Place
- Puerto Lopez, Colombia · Pista Nueva York · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Cessna A188 · all A188s on the register
- Registration
- HK1398 · no longer on the register · serial 1880412
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight · non-U.S. commercial rules
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On July 2, 2016, about 1810 coordinated universal time, a Cessna A188, Colombian registration HK1398, operated by Comercializadora de Aviacion Agricola - ECO, was destroyed when it collided with a utility tower near Puerto Lopez, Colombia. The certificated pilot was fatally injured. The aerial application flight was conducted under Colombian flight regulations. The flight originated from Pista Nueva York airstrip, Puerto Lopez, Colombia. According to preliminary information from the Government of Colombia, the airplane had completed the aerial application and was returning to the airstrip when its right wing collided with a utility tower about 100 feet above ground level. The airplane subsequently impacted terrain and a postcrash fire ensued. 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 Telephone: (57-1) 296-2138 (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
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during maneuvering defining event
Pilot
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Puerto Lopez
- Destination: Puerto Lopez
- 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 |
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.