Event Description
The flight from Lima was uneventful. The crew initiated descent to Cuzco-Alejandro Velasco Astete Airport, Runway 28. The aircraft was configured for landing with flaps extended to 15 degrees. The landing was smooth. The crew began the braking procedure. Eight seconds after touchdown, vibrations from the left main gear were noticed. At a speed of 100 knots, the right main gear collapsed. The aircraft rolled for several hundred meters before coming to a halt on the runway. All 139 occupants evacuated safely. The aircraft sustained damage beyond repair.
Investigation Findings
The official investigation determined the probable cause to be an unstable approach and inadequate landing technique for high altitude fields. This resulted in increased landing speed, the start of the flare maneuver at a higher altitude, and low descent speed. The aircraft made soft contact with the runway, causing inefficiency in the operation of the shimmy damper, which did not prevent uncontrolled oscillation of the shock absorbers. Contributing factors included lack of instruction and training in simulators for high altitude landing techniques, and lack of a performance analysis process using flight recorders or other data recording equipment by the operating company.