What happened
Following departure from runway 23 at Nueva Gerona-Rafael Cabrera Airport, the flight crew attempted to reach an altitude of 1,000 feet before encountering mechanical difficulties. After notifying air traffic control of the situation, the crew received authorization to perform an immediate return to the airfield.
To facilitate the landing, the crew executed a 180-degree turn and conducted an approach to runway 05 without the use of flaps. Upon touchdown, the aircraft traveled approximately 2,500 meters along the runway surface before exiting the paved area and coming to a stop in an artificial lake. There were no fatalities among the 52 occupants, all of whom evacuated the aircraft without injury. The aircraft sustained damage beyond repair.
Findings
- The crew performed a landing using a flapless approach due to technical issues encountered during the initial climb.