COLOLMBIAN NATIONAL POLICE HELO CRASHED AND LOST

UNCLAS BOGOTA 003018 SIPDIS DEPT FOR INL/LP AND INL/A E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SNAR CO SUBJECT: COLOLMBIAN NATIONAL POLICE HELO CRASHED AND LOST ¶1. On 1 April 2006, a Colombian National Police (CNP) Bell 212 helicopter (tail number PNC 0493, but USG titled) crashed while attempting to land in the Magdalena Department near the Sierra Nevada National Park during a resupply mission for manual eradication. Crewmembers were able to extract the injured pilot, Captain Samir Parra, but he died while en route to the hospital. The CNP co-pilot is in stable condition and the other CNP crewmember was injured, but will be okay. No U.S. Citizens were on the aircraft. ¶2. Although the cause of the crash has not been determined, hostile fire has been ruled out. A bilateral safety investigation with CNP and the Narcotics Affairs Section (NAS) is ongoing. The loss of the pilot and aircraft will adversely affect current efforts to complete night vision goggle training for the CNP operated Bell 212 helicopters. WOOD