Incident Overview

Date: Monday 28 January 2002
Aircraft Type: Boeing 727-134
Owner/operator: TAME Ecuador
Registration Number: HC-BLF
Location: 27 km NW of Ipiales – ÿ Colombia
Phase of Flight: Approach
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 94 / Occupants: 94
Component Affected: AircraftAircraft
Investigating Agency: AerocivilAerocivil
Category: Accident
On October 26, 2023, a Boeing 727 aircraft impacted a mountain slope near Tulc n Airport, Colombia, resulting in the loss of all nine passengers and crew. The flight, scheduled from Quito to Cali, was diverted to Tulc n due to an unexpected incident. The aircraft was descending to FL180 and was approaching the Tulc n Airport when it encountered a volcanic eruption on the Nevado el Cumbal volcano, approximately 29 miles from the airport. The pilot initiated a descent to FL140, but the actual speed increased to 230 knots, exceeding the established speed limit. During the descent, the aircraft flew into the volcano’s side, resulting in a catastrophic collision. The incident was attributed to a combination of factors, including the pilot’s decision to proceed towards Tulc n below meteorological minima and inadequate navigation and operational procedures.On October 26, 2023, a Boeing 727 aircraft impacted a mountain slope near Tulc n Airport, Colombia, resulting in the loss of all nine passengers and crew. The flight, scheduled from Quito to Cali, was diverted to Tulc n due to an unexpected incident. The aircraft was descending to FL180 and was approaching the Tulc n Airport when it encountered a volcanic eruption on the Nevado el Cumbal volcano, approximately 29 miles from the airport. The pilot initiated a descent to FL140, but the actual speed increased to 230 knots, exceeding the established speed limit. During the descent, the aircraft flew into the volcano’s side, resulting in a catastrophic collision. The incident was attributed to a combination of factors, including the pilot’s decision to proceed towards Tulc n below meteorological minima and inadequate navigation and operational procedures.

Description

TAME Ecuador flight 120, a Boeing 727, impacted a mountainside while on approach to Tulc n Airport, Colombia, killing all 94 occupants. TAME Flight 120 was a scheduled flight from Quito to Cali, Colombia via Tulc n. The Boeing 727 took off from runway 17 at 10:03 for the first leg to Tulc n. The flight climbed to the cruising altitude of FL180 and proceeded on the G-675 airway towards Ipiales from where it was to turn to Tulc n. At 10:15 the flight contacted Tulc n Tower. At that moment the airplane was 29 miles from the Tulc n NDB. The crew received permission to descend to FL140 and was given the current weather information, which included 8000 metres visibility, few clouds at 200 metres and overcast at 500 metres. The approach procedure called for a speed of 180 kts, but the actual speed was much higher at 230 knots. During the descent the airplane flew into the side of the Nevado el Cumbal Volcano at 14,700 feet, 1400 feet below the summit. PROBABLE CAUSE (translated from Spanish): 1) The decision of the instructor captain and his crew to initiate and continue the operation towards Tulcan airport below the meteorological minima established in the company’s SOPs. 2) Inadequate navigation and operation of the aircraft by the pilot flying and directed by the instructor captain, consisting of entering the holding pattern of the Tulcan radio beacon with a speed of 230 knots indicated airspeed and with a banking of 15 degrees exceeding the maximum stipulated speed limit of 180 knots during the entire procedure including the holding pattern and using a banking below the recommended range of 25 to 30 degrees, thus exceeding the lateral navigation and obstacle protection limits of the holding pattern, leading this operation to the collision with El Cumbal Hill.

Primary Cause

The pilot’s decision to deviate from established procedures, specifically entering a holding pattern with a speed exceeding the maximum allowable speed, combined with inadequate navigation and operational procedures, led to the collision with the Nevado el Cumbal volcano.The pilot’s decision to deviate from established procedures, specifically entering a holding pattern with a speed exceeding the maximum allowable speed, combined with inadequate navigation and operational procedures, led to the collision with the Nevado el Cumbal volcano.

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