SAM Colombia Flight 501

The aircraft involved was a Boeing 727-46, registered as HK-2422X (factory no. 18876, serial no. 217), which was built in 1965 and had its maiden flight on December 30 of that year. The aircraft was powered by three Pratt & Whitney JT8D-7A turbofan engines. The aircraft was delivered to Japan Airlines on January 7, 1966, and was registered as JA8309. On November 16, 1972, the airliner was leased to Korean Air, where it was re-registered as HL7309. On November 9, 1980, Korean Air sold the aircraft to SAM Colombia, where it was re-registered as HK-2422X.[1][2]

At 14:18, Flight 501 took off from Panama City, Panama, bound for Bogotá, Colombia, with a stopover in Medellín. The aircraft climbed to flight level 160 (16,000 feet, 4,877 m). On board were 7 crew members and 125 passengers, including several Panamanian dentists on their way to a convention.[1][3]

Thunderstorm activity in the area made automatic direction finder (ADF) navigation more difficult, and the Medellín VOR/DME was unusable, having been attacked by terrorists. The crew reported over the Abejorral NDB beacon at FL160, as they were approaching Medellín. The flight was then cleared to descend to FL120 (12,000 feet, or 3,658 m), after which communication was lost. After multiple failed attempts to contact the flight, Medellín ATC declared an emergency.[1][3]

Because the radio beacon was unserviceable, the crew made navigational errors. The 727 had actually not yet reached the beacon, and descended into mountainous terrain. The flight then struck Mount Paramo Frontino at 12,300' (3,749 m).[1][3]

• Accident description at the Aviation Safety Network