What happened
During the landing phase at Bunia Airport, an unexpected encounter with animals on the runway disrupted the arrival sequence. As the crew began executing standard braking protocols, the presence of wildlife on the runway prompted conflicting actions between the flight crew members. The captain attempted to perform a go-around by increasing power across all four engines. Simultaneously, the instructor opted to proceed with the landing, reducing the engines to idle.
Due to the lack of sufficient stopping distance, the aircraft overran the end of the runway and traveled approximately 400 metres beyond the threshold. The excursion resulted in a post-crash fire that caused the total destruction of the airframe. Despite the intensity of the fire, all 10 occupants managed to evacuate the wreckage and were reported uninjured.
Findings
- The primary factor in the overrun was the conflicting flight commands between the captain and the instructor regarding whether to continue the landing or initiate a go-around.
- The presence of animals on the runway served as the initial trigger for the emergency maneuvers.