The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
Accidents · NTSB ERA20WA061 · Preliminary: the investigation is not finished

Piper PA-32-301T accident near Vereda Cuzama, CO, December 30, 2019

On December 30, 2019 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-32-301T, registered HK2629, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Vereda Cuzama (Palonegro Airport). It was flown under non-U.S. private rules. 3 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
December 30, 2019 · about 2:30 pm local time
Place
Vereda Cuzama, Colombia · Palonegro Airport · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
3 people were killed.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Piper PA-32-301T · all PA-32-301Ts on the register
Registration
HK2629 · no longer on the register · serial 32-8124011
Damage
Substantial damage
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 PA-32-301T airplane that occurred on December 30, 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

  1. Loss of engine power (partial) during initial climb defining event

Pilot

  • Certificate: commercial pilot
  • Seat: left
  • Injury: fatal

Passenger

  • Seat: unk
  • Injury: fatal

Passenger

  • Seat: unk
  • Injury: fatal

The aircraft

  • Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
  • Seats: 6
  • Landing gear: retractable
  • Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-S1AD (piston); 0 hours total

The flight

  • Departed from: SKBG Bucaramanga
  • Destination: SKCM Cimitarra
  • Flight plan: not recorded

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Flight crew1
Passengers2

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.