What happened
During an approach to Calama Airport, the pilot encountered a displaced threshold on runway 27, which had been implemented because the initial 880 meters of the runway were unavailable due to ongoing repaving operations. While approaching the airport, the flight crew was flying directly into the sun. The aircraft touched down approximately 520 meters before the relocated threshold.
Upon landing short of the designated area, the aircraft made contact with various debris on the ground, causing the nose landing gear to collapse. This impact initiated a slide where the aircraft traveled several hundred meters on its nose. During this sequence, the structural integrity of the airframe failed, and the plane broke into two separate sections. Following the accident, a fire broke out approximately 30 minutes after the event, which ultimately led to the total destruction of the aircraft.
Findings
- The landing occurred significantly short of the displaced threshold established by the NOTAM.
- The pilot's visibility was likely impacted by facing the sun during the final approach.
- The collision with runway materials caused the collapse of the nose gear and subsequent structural failure, resulting in one fatality among the passengers.