What happened
On March 16, 2013, at approximately 08:56 a.m., a Gippsland GA8, registration HI 880, was performing a commercial passenger flight from Punta Cana International Airport to Arroyo Barril Aerodrome in Samaná, Dominican Republic. The aircraft was carrying seven passengers and one pilot.
Upon landing on runway 11, the aircraft touched down in the first third of the runway. The pilot reported that a crosswind component (west to east) increased in intensity, causing the aircraft to drift and requiring intense concentration on rudder and aileron inputs to maintain centerline. During the rollout, the pilot attempted to apply the brakes, but the aircraft failed to decelerate as expected. To avoid overrunning the runway and hitting a precipice at the threshold of runway 29, the pilot executed a left turn. This maneuver led the aircraft off the paved surface and into a ditch approximately 15 feet deep, located 70 meters north of the runway.
The impact resulted in three serious injuries and three minor injuries among the passengers. The pilot and one passenger were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, including the loss of the nose landing gear, fuselage deformation, and propeller damage.
The investigation
The CIAA investigation examined the aircraft's mechanical condition, the meteorological environment, and the pilot's actions. Investigators verified that the braking system was fully functional and showed no signs of hydraulic leaks. The aircraft's performance data indicated that the remaining runway distance was more than sufficient to stop the aircraft under normal conditions.
Investigators also noted that the aerodrome lacked permanent ambulance services, necessitating the use of a truck to transport the injured to medical centers. Furthermore, the investigation identified that the control tower windows were highly opaque, which could hinder visibility for controllers observing aircraft movements.