| - | ACCIDENT DETAILS |
| Date: | January 28, 2002 |
| Time: | 1100 |
| Location: | Near Ipiales, Colombia |
| Operator: | TAME |
| Flight #: | 120 |
| Route: | Quito - Tulcán - Cali |
| AC Type: | Boeing B-727-134 |
| Registration: | HC-BLF |
| cn / ln: | 19692/498 |
| Aboard: | 92 (passengers:83 crew:9) |
| Fatalities: | 92 (passengers:83 crew:9) |
| Ground: | 0 |
| Summary: | The airliner crashed into the fogbound 15,721 ft. Nevado de Cumbal volcano, in the Andes mountains, near the Ecuador / Colombian border. Air traffic control lost contact with the plane as it circled into Colombian territory to maneuver around snow capped mountain peaks and return to the Ecuadorian border city of Tulcán. The pilot's decision to initiate and continue the flight towards Tulcán Airport while below minimum meteorological conditions established in the company's standard operating procedure. Inadequate navigation and operation of the aircraft by the pilot in command consistent with entering the holding pattern at the Tulcán NDB with a velocity of 230 knots indicated and with a bank angle of 15 degrees, exceeding the maximum limit of 180 knots stipulated throughout the procedure, and using a bank angle inferior to the recommended 25 to 30 degrees, thereby departing holding pattern obstacle protection, leading to a collision against the Cumbal Volcano. |
Sources
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