Investigation Summary
The flight departed Cúcuta at 11:42 local time (16:42 UTC) and was expected to arrive in Ocaña approximately 23 minutes later. At 11:54 (16:54 UTC), while flying at an altitude of 7,900 feet, the crew made their final radio contact. The aircraft was transiting the Cordillera Oriental, a region characterized by difficult mountainous terrain and, at the time of the accident, challenging weather conditions with limited visibility. The crash site was located in the municipality of La Playa de Belén, an area known for significant security challenges due to the presence of illegal armed groups, which initially complicated search and rescue coordination. The Colombian Civil Aviation Authority (Aeronáutica Civil) activated emergency protocols and deployed military and civilian assets to locate the wreckage, eventually confirming there were no survivors at 16:26 local time.
Final Conclusions
The investigation is currently being conducted by the Technical Accident Investigation Directorate (DIAC) of the Colombian Civil Aviation Authority. A preliminary report was released on February 10, 2026. While the investigation is ongoing, initial focus areas include the challenging weather conditions and limited visibility reported during the descent into the mountainous Catatumbo region.
Video Analysis
No video analysis linked for this case file yet.
Airframe & Maintenance
Crew Experience
Pilot
The pilot had more than 10,000 hours of flying experience.
Systems & Failure Modes
Terrain Awareness and Warning System (TAWS)
A system designed to prevent controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) by providing alerts to the crew; its performance during the descent in mountainous terrain is a standard part of such investigations.
VHF Communication
The primary method of contact between the flight crew and air traffic control, which ceased at 11:54 local time.
Interesting Facts
- 01The aircraft was a Beechcraft 1900D manufactured in 1994.
- 02The flight was operated by SEARCA on behalf of the state-owned airline SATENA.
- 03The crash site was located in the rugged Cordillera Oriental mountains near the Venezuelan border.
- 04Among the 13 passengers were notable political figures Diógenes Quintero and Carlos Salcedo.
- 05The aircraft had accumulated 32,000 flight hours at the time of the accident.
Safety Actions & Advisories
DIAC Preliminary Safety Advisory
Source ↗Following the release of the preliminary report on February 10, 2026, the Technical Accident Investigation Directorate (DIAC) issued a reminder to operators regarding strict adherence to minimum sector altitudes (MSA) when operating in the Cordillera Oriental region, particularly during periods of reduced visibility.