SAM Colombia Flight 501 facts for kids
A SAM Colombia Boeing 727, similar to the one involved
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| Accident summary | |
|---|---|
| Date | 19 May 1993 |
| Summary | Controlled flight into terrain due to Pilot error and ATC error |
| Place | Mt. Paramo Frontino, near Medellín, Colombia |
| Passengers | 125 |
| Crew | 7 |
| Fatalities | 132 |
| Survivors | 0 |
| Aircraft type | Boeing 727-46 |
| Airline/user | SAM Colombia |
| Registration | HK-2422X |
| Flew from | Tocumen International Airport, Panama |
| Stopover | José María Córdova International Airport, Medellín, Colombia |
| Flying to | El Dorado International Airport, Bogotá, Colombia |
SAM Colombia Flight 501 was a passenger airplane flight. It was operated by SAM Colombia, an airline from Colombia. On May 19, 1993, a Boeing 727 airplane flying as Flight 501 crashed. Sadly, all 132 people on board died in the accident. This included 125 passengers and 7 crew members.
Contents
What Happened to Flight 501?
The airplane was flying from Panama City, Panama, to Bogotá, Colombia. It had a planned stop in Medellín, Colombia. As the plane was getting close to Medellín, it flew into a tall mountain. This type of accident is called a "controlled flight into terrain." It means the pilots were in control of the plane, but it accidentally hit the ground or a mountain.
The Flight Path
The pilots told air traffic control that they were flying over a special radio beacon called Abejorral NDB. They said they were at a height of 16,000 feet (about 4,877 meters). Air traffic control then told them they could fly lower, down to 12,000 feet (about 3,658 meters).
However, the plane had not actually reached the Abejorral beacon yet. It was still some distance away. Because of this, when the plane started to fly lower, it was still over very high mountains.
Why the Crash Happened
The plane crashed into Mount Paramo Frontino. This mountain is about 12,300 feet (about 3,749 meters) high. Several factors made this accident happen.
There were big thunderstorms in the area at the time. These storms made it harder for the pilots to use their navigation tools. One important navigation system, the Medellín VOR/DME, was not working. This was because it had been damaged by terrorists. This made it even more difficult for the pilots to know their exact location.
Pilot and Air Traffic Control Roles
The investigation showed that mistakes were made by both the pilots and the air traffic controllers. The pilots thought they were in a different place than they actually were. Air traffic control also gave instructions based on this incorrect information. This combination of errors led the plane to fly into the mountain.
Remembering Flight 501
The crash of SAM Colombia Flight 501 was a very sad event. It reminds us how important it is for pilots and air traffic controllers to work together perfectly. It also shows why navigation systems need to be reliable and working well.
See also
In Spanish: Vuelo 501 de SAM Colombia para niños
