What happened
During a charter operation originating from Toronto, an aircraft was performing its final approach toward the runway threshold at Hewanorra Airport. As the flight progressed through the approach phase, the crew encountered significant windshear conditions.
While the aircraft initially maintained stability, a critical change occurred as it passed over the runway threshold. At an altitude of approximately six meters, the co-pilot reduced engine power by retarding the throttles. This action led to an aerodynamic stall, causing the aircraft type to strike the runway surface.
The impact resulted in the separation of the nose landing gear. Following the initial contact, the plane slid along the runway for a distance of roughly 700 meters before coming to a complete stop. Despite the severity of the impact and the fact that the aircraft sustained damage beyond repair, all 171 occupants managed to evacuate the plane without any reported injuries.
Findings
Investigations into the incident concluded that the primary factor was the loss of control following windshear conditions during the final approach phase.