Piper PA31 accident near Popayan, CO, September 15, 2019
On September 15, 2019 at about 2:00 pm local time, a Piper PA31, registered HK5229, was destroyed in an accident during takeoff near Popayan. It was flown under non-U.S. private rules. 7 people were killed and 2 people were seriously injured.
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 15, 2019 · about 2:00 pm local time
- Place
- Popayan, Colombia
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 7 people were killed and 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Piper PA31 350 · all PA31s on the register
- Registration
- HK5229 · no longer on the register · serial 31-7405212
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight · non-U.S. private rules
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
The government of Colombia has notified the NTSB of an accident involving a PIPER PA31 airplane that occurred on September 15, 2019. The NTSB has appointed a U.S. Accredited Representative to assist the government of Colombia's investigation under the provisions of ICAO Annex 13.All investigative information will be 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
- Collision during takeoff/land during takeoff defining event
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 7,400 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: fixed
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 5 | 2 |
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.