What happened
During the final approach phase toward the runway 07 threshold at San José-Juan Santamaría Airport, the flight crew operated in challenging weather characterized by heavy rainfall and restricted visibility. While attempting to land, the aircraft type descended below the established glide path. This deviation resulted in the right main landing gear making contact with the terrain approximately 15 meters before reaching the runway threshold.
The force of the impact caused the landing gear to be ripped from the airframe. Following this structural failure, the aircraft lost control and continued to slide across the ground for several dozen meters. Despite the significant impact and subsequent sliding motion, all 73 occupants were able to evacuate the scene without sustaining any injuries. The aircraft, identified by its name Clipper Meteor, suffered damage so extensive that it was declared a total loss.
Findings
- The primary factor in the accident was the descent below the glide path during an approach conducted in low-visibility weather conditions caused by rain.