27 Years ago today: On 19 May 1993 a SAM Colombia Boeing 727-46 struck Mount Paramo Frontino at 12300ft; all 133 on board were killed.
| Date: | Wednesday 19 May 1993 |
| Time: | 15:04 |
| Type: | Boeing 727-46 |
| Operator: | SAM Colombia |
| Registration: | HK-2422X |
| C/n / msn: | 18876/217 |
| First flight: | 1965-12-30 (27 years 5 months) |
| Engines: | 3 Pratt & Whitney JT8D-7A |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 7 / Occupants: 7 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 125 / Occupants: 125 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 132 / Occupants: 132 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Aircraft fate: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | 60 km (37.5 mls) NW of Medellín ( |
| Crash site elevation: | 3749 m (12300 feet) amsl |
| Phase: | En route (ENR) |
| Nature: | International Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Panama City-Tocumen International Airport (PTY/MPTO), Panama |
| Destination airport: | Rionegro/Medellín-José María Córdova Airport (MDE/SKRG), Colombia |
| Flightnumber: | 501 |
Narrative:
A Boeing 727-46 passenger plane, registered HK-2422X, was destroyed in an accident near Medellín, Colombia. There were 125 passengers and seven crew members on board. All were killed.
SAM Colombia flight 501 departed Panama City-Tocumen International Airport (PTY) on a scheduled service to Medellín (MDE) and Bogotá (BOG), Colombia.
The crew reported over the Abejorral NDB beacon at FL160, approaching Medellín. The flight was then cleared to descend to FL120. The 727 had actually not yet reached the beacon, and descended into mountainous terrain. The flight struck Mount Paramo Frontino at 12300 feet. Thunderstorm activity in the area made ADF navigation more difficult and the RNG VOR/DME had been attacked by terrorists and was unserviceable.
