What happened
A scheduled flight traveling from San Juan to the Antigua (ANU) area proceeded without incident until the final approach. While performing the VOR 07 approach at approximately 2,500 feet AGL, the crew maneuvered the transport category airplane to avoid TCAS traffic. The runway was visible during the descent.
The captain was operating the aircraft on final approach with 40 degrees of flaps. Upon reaching 1,000 feet, the first officer performed the company-mandated verbal callout, and the captain increased power above idle. The crew noted the aircraft was slightly high at 1,000 feet; by 500 feet, they were "in the slot," though airspeed was approximately 20 knots above the reference speed of 128 knots.
Flight recorder data revealed that between 500 feet and touchdown, the airspeed decreased from 143 knots to 135 knots. During this same period, the pitch attitude increased from 0.5 degrees nose up to 9 degrees nose up, the descent rate slowed from 1,700 feet per minute to 1,000 feet per minute, and the flight path angle decreased from 5.8 degrees to 2.7 degrees. The aircraft contacted the runway on the main landing gear and bounced. This bounce caused the aircraft to pitch nose up to approximately 11 degrees, resulting in the tail striking the runway and sustaining substantial damage.
The investigation
The investigation found no anomalies regarding the airplane's engines or systems. While the airline's operating manual included a "stabilized approach concept," the company lacked specific procedures for crew actions or a mandatory go-around requirement if an approach became unstabilized.