Last updated: 17 January 2019
| Status: | |
| 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: | 40 km (25 mls) SE of Medellín ( Colombia)
|
| 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 |
| Rionegro/Medellín-José María Córdova Airport (MDE/SKRG), Colombia | |
| Flightnumber: | 501 |
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.
Classification:
ThunderstormControlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) - Mountain
Sources:
» Air Safety Week 7 June 1995 (p. 4,5)» Air Safety Week 24 May 1993 (p. 4)
» Flight International
» Scramble 168
Photos
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Panama City-Tocumen International Airport to Rionegro/Medellín-José María Córdova Airport as the crow flies is 540 km (338 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
Distance from Panama City-Tocumen International Airport to Rionegro/Medellín-José María Córdova Airport as the crow flies is 540 km (338 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
languages: 
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Boeing 727
- 1832 built
- 65th loss
- 45th fatal accident
- 12th worst accident (at the time)
- 14th worst accident (currently)
Colombia- 2nd worst accident (at the time)
- 3rd worst accident (currently)