Flight Training Aircraft Excursions After Unplanned Maneuver

Casualties unknown • Barrancabermeja, CO

A Cessna 172N veered off the runway at Yariguíes Airport during an unplanned 360-degree precision landing maneuver, resulting in substantial aircraft damage.

What happened

On July 25, 2016, a Cessna 172N, registration HK-4688-G, was conducting a flight training mission at Yariguíes Airport (SKEJ) in Barrancabermeja, Colombia. The flight, operated by AVIACOL LTDA, initially followed a pre-planned training syllabus involving slow flight and 180-degree precision landings. However, following the completion of the scheduled maneuvers, the instructor decided to perform an additional, unplanned 360-degree precision landing demonstration and practice.

During the student pilot's attempt at the 360-degree maneuver, the aircraft experienced an abnormal contact with the runway at head of runway 04. The left main landing gear made primary contact with the pavement, causing the aircraft to deviate from the centerline. Although the instructor took control of the aircraft during the excursion, the deviation could not be corrected. The aircraft subsequently struck the PAPI lights and a security booth located within the runway safety area. The impact caused substantial damage to the aircraft, including deformations to the wings and rear fuselage, as well as the separation of the engine mount. The instructor sustained minor injuries, while the student pilot was uninjured.

The investigation

The GRIAA investigation established that the security booth involved in the collision was an obstacle located within the runway strip that had not been published in the Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP). The investigation also reviewed the training records of the crew, noting that the student pilot had relatively low flight hours and had experienced a lack of continuity in their training program. Furthermore, the investigation examined the decision-making process regarding the execution of maneuvers that were not included in the original flight plan.

Findings

  • The primary cause of the accident was abnormal contact with the runway via the left main gear, which led to a loss of directional control.
  • The crew failed to maintain an accurate estimation of the aircraft's position relative to the ground.
  • The instructor failed to anticipate or intervene sufficiently to correct the student's improper directional control during the landing phase.
  • The student pilot lacked sufficient experience in executing 360-degree precision maneuvers.
  • The presence of an unmapped obstacle (the security booth) within the runway safety zone contributed to the severity of the impact.

Probable cause

The accident was caused by an unstable landing resulting in asymmetric contact with the runway, compounded by the instructor's failure to take corrective action and the crew's poor altitude/position estimation during an unplanned maneuver.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2016-07-25 172N accident near Barrancabermeja, CO?

A Cessna 172N veered off the runway at Yariguíes Airport during an unplanned 360-degree precision landing maneuver, resulting in substantial aircraft damage.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2016-07-25 involved a 172N, registration HK4688, at Barrancabermeja, CO.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The accident was caused by an unstable landing resulting in asymmetric contact with the runway, compounded by the instructor's failure to take corrective action and the crew's poor altitude/position estimation during an unplanned maneuver.

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