What happened
On May 11, 2014, a Cessna 172K, registration HK2527, was operating a scheduled air taxi flight from Villavicencio to Uribe, Meta, Colombia. The flight, operated by Laser Aéreo S.A.S, was delayed by one hour due to weather conditions before departing at 16:30 UTC.
During the final approach to runway 30 at La Uribe Aerodrome, the aircraft performed a landing with a high descent angle and a heavy impact against the asphalt surface. This impact caused the left main landing gear to fracture. Following the touchdown, the aircraft traveled approximately 135 meters before veering uncontrolled to the left. As the aircraft crossed a drainage ditch, the nose gear detached, causing the aircraft to yaw sharply and strike the ground with the right wingtip. The aircraft came to rest approximately 380 meters from the runway threshold. Both the pilot and the passenger evacuated the aircraft without injury.
The investigation
The GRIAA investigation examined the aircraft's maintenance history, the pilot's training records, and the flight's operational parameters. Investigators found that the aircraft was airworthy and that the pilot held valid commercial licenses. The investigation focused on the flight dynamics during the approach, noting that the pilot utilized a 10-degree flap setting and maintained a speed of 60 KIAS.
Technical analysis of the left main landing gear revealed that the component had suffered progressive failure due to extreme compressive, tensile, and bending stresses during the heavy landing. The investigation also identified deficiencies in the pilot's understanding of aerodynamic principles, specifically regarding crosswind and tailwind corrections, and the proper use of flaps during stabilized approaches.