Description

On 20 December 1995, a Boeing 757-200 being operated by American Airlines on a scheduled domestic passenger flight from Miami FL to Cali Colombia impacted terrain whilst descending to destination in night Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC) resulting in the destruction of the aircraft and fatal injury to all but four of 163 occupants.

Investigation

An Investigation was carried out by the Aeronautica Civil of the Republica de Colombia. The Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) were both recovered and successful downloaded and Flight Management System data and ATC recordings were also obtained. It was established that the First Officer had been PF. It was noted that both flight crew were cross-qualified on the Boeing 757 and Boeing 767 and that both were experienced in operations on these two types, although no information on specifically 757 recency was recorded. It was also noted that whilst the Captain was familiar with Cali, the First Officer had not been there before. The airport is situated in a north-south valley at an ARP elevation of 3162 feet amsl with the highest mountains within 30nm of the airport being to the east and reaching 9000 feet amsl within 10nm of the extended runway centreline and exceeding 14000 feet amsl thereafter.