C-GSVM Navajo missing in Colombia May 2 2014

[bizjets101]

This is a google translation from Rescate, Venezuela

Photo (Flickr)

Plane disappeared between Santander and Boyaca , apparently foreign
Photo: Colprensa / Stock Photo
The aircraft is at the service of the Union Temporal Company , TPC , and owned by Oracle Geodesic International.
Caracol | May 3, 2014

Desparecida Airplane Piper PA-31 Navajo Canadian registration C- GSVM made ​​a reconnaissance flight by the departments of Santander and Boyaca , was reported missing in the town of Coromoro , Santander, Jordan village 50 miles south of Bucaramanga. The aircraft is at the service of the Union Temporal Company , TPC , and owned by Oracle International Geodesic work that was ahead of airborne geophysics .

In the morning hours of Saturday, the twin Bucaramanga off with your basic crew of two , out of radio contact declaring noon . Immediately, the search and rescue protocols were activated , who through the National Recovery Center and the Colombian Air Force forward the necessary steps to try to locate that computer.

The difficult weather conditions presented in the Department of Santander, have hampered the search to locate the aircraft with its occupants .

[northwings]

The hopes, and prayers of everyone here at YCN go out to the crew and family.

[Mr. North]

Canadian Light Aircraft Disappears in Northern Colombia
Bogota, May 4 (PL) A Canadian light aircraft, carrying two crewmembers, disappeared in the northern Colombian department of Santander, as it was flying over the municipality of Coromoro, sources from Civil Aeronautics reported on Sunday.

According to the sources, the plane took off from the airport of Bucaramanga, the capital of Santander, and communication with the pilots was lost on Saturday, as they were flying over a rural zone in Coromoro, some 80 kilometers from their point of departure.

They added that the search is focusing on that region, but weather conditions have made it difficult to find the plane.

Although Civil Aeronautics did not elaborate on the crew's nationality, local media reported that they might be Canadian citizens who were carrying out geophysics works for the state Agustin Codazzi Geographic Institute.

http://www.plenglish.com/index.php?opti ... 1&Itemid=1

[chipmunk]

According to eltiempo, a Canadian and a Brazilian were on board.

http://www.eltiempo.com/colombia/orient ... 13929655-4

[chipmunk]

Today's (May 5) press release from the Colombian Aeronautica Civil (my translation, I received it as a PDF file and I don't have a link.)

At 4500 meters high, in the mountainous zone of Coromoro, Santander, the Piper PA-31 Navajo, registration C-GCVM [*error in the registration, should be C-GSVM] aircraft that disappeared in the afternoon of May 3 was found.

Rescue agencies are trying to reach the top of the hill where the aircraft is located. So far, they cannot determine the condition of the two occupants as specialized staff have not arrived yet arrived in the area.

At this time, the National Recovery Center is evaluating and coordinating the rescue of the occupants.

The causes of the accident will be investigated by the Aviation Authority.

[GyvAir]

14,700' on a survey flight? Or were they repositioning the aircraft? Hopefully the crew will be OK.

Colombia spots crashed Canadian aircraft in Andes

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Authorities have spotted from the air a Canadian-registered aircraft that went missing Saturday in northeast Colombia with two passengers on board.

Rescue workers are trying to reach the twin-engine Piper PA-31 Navajo but are being hampered by poor visibility at the crash site in the Andes mountains at an altitude of about 14,700 feet (4,500 meters).

Civil aviation authorities in a statement Monday said they didn't know whether the two passengers, earlier identified as a Canadian and Brazilian, were alive.

It's not clear what led to the crash. Newspaper El Tiempo said the plane and its crew were hired to perform an aerial survey to locate commercial minerals.

https://news.yahoo.com/colombia-spots-c ... 48488.html

[chipmunk]

They were on a survey flight and they were in their survey block. That area gets really rugged & high really fast after taking off from Bucaramanga; a clear blue sky day is rare.

As a fellow survey pilot (though a different company) who has recently flown adjacent to that block, this hits pretty close to home.

Hoping for the best, but assuming the worst

[skypirate88]

CBC is reporting both occupants were killed in the accident.

Condolences to those involved

[jpilot77]

Both occupants were Canadian.

http://news.nationalpost.com/2014/05/05 ... -survived/

[marcotta]

So sorry to hear about this happening in the flying community.

I'm a reporter with CBC Saskatchewan.

We're just looking to talk to anyone who might give us insight into the survey industry. Someone told me the planes have to fly low to the ground, etc.

Also, I see chipmunk that you have experience in an area near to where the incident happened.

If you could call me or if anyone has any info they would like to share, please let me know.

I'm at 306-347-9508. My email is amanda.marcotte@cbc.ca.

So sorry to hear this news,
Amanda Marcotte
Producer, Blue Sky
CBC Radio Saskatchewan

[chipmunk]

Ms. Marcotte:

In my experience, reporters have a way of twisting words, written statements, and factual information, and use them to imply and speculate as to what caused an aircraft accident. I have seen this happen more times than I care to remember and it's a very negative feeling, particularly for those who know the crew members involved.

Nothing personal, but I will not comment. Please respect the privacy and feelings of the friends, family, and colleagues of these two gentlemen who will not be coming home from work.

[northwings]

Our most sincere and heartfelt condolences to the families of Peter and Neville from all of us here at YCN. You will be sadly missed.

[CpnCrunch]

Ms. Marcotte:

In my experience, reporters have a way of twisting words, written statements, and factual information, and use them to imply and speculate as to what caused an aircraft accident. I have seen this happen more times than I care to remember and it's a very negative feeling, particularly for those who know the crew members involved.

Nothing personal, but I will not comment. Please respect the privacy and feelings of the friends, family, and colleagues of these two gentlemen who will not be coming home from work.

I think it depends on the reporter. As far as I am aware, the reporting on the Antarctica crash was handled very well by the press, and the comments of at least one admin on this forum appear in many of the news stories of that accident.

[wallypilot]

This one hits close to home. RIP Peter...condolences to family. He was a well liked, resourceful and skilled guy. His family must be beyond grief.

[pelmet]

They were on a survey flight and they were in their survey block. That area gets really rugged & high really fast after taking off from Bucaramanga; a clear blue sky day is rare.

As a fellow survey pilot (though a different company) who has recently flown adjacent to that block, this hits pretty close to home.

Hoping for the best, but assuming the worst

I didn't realize that survey was done at that altitude. How does it work in that sort of situation. Is it flying up the valleys or just over the peaks?

[chipmunk]

Pelmet, it is a pre-programmed "drape." I'll send you a PM with a bit more detail (just to avoid being taken out of context by media.)

[Ricktye]

While I can certainly appreciate your comments, I don't believe reporters have a monopoly on this. Check out some of the other threads on this forum such as:

http://www.avcanada.ca/forums2/viewtopi ... 18&t=95188

All to often many people with no idea except their opinions drive speculation... You may want to reconsider your opinion.

Condolences to the families.

R...

Ms. Marcotte:

In my experience, reporters have a way of twisting words, written statements, and factual information, and use them to imply and speculate as to what caused an aircraft accident. I have seen this happen more times than I care to remember and it's a very negative feeling, particularly for those who know the crew members involved.

Nothing personal, but I will not comment. Please respect the privacy and feelings of the friends, family, and colleagues of these two gentlemen who will not be coming home from work.