What happened
On August 3, 2016, a Piper 28-161, registration HK4856G, operating as a flight training mission for Protecnica Centro de Entrenamiento Aeronáutico S.A., performed an emergency landing on an unprepared sandy beach in Bocas de Ceniza, Sitionuevo, Colombia.
The flight, consisting of an instructor and a student, was conducting maneuvers in the R1 training zone near Ernesto Cortissoz International Airport (SKBQ). During the flight, the crew observed deteriorating meteorological conditions characterized by convective clouds. As the crew attempted to return to SKBQ, Air Traffic Control (ATC) advised that the airport was closed due to adverse weather and suggested an alternative route.
As the aircraft attempted to navigate toward alternative aerodromes, the crew encountered heavy turbulence that caused an abrupt descent from 900 to 600 feet AGL. Faced with heavy rain, reduced visibility, and a cloud ceiling of only 500 feet, the instructor decided to execute a forced landing on the beach to avoid losing visual contact with the ground. The impact caused substantial structural damage to the aircraft, including damage to the engine mount, the propeller, and the left wing spars.
The investigation
The GRIAA investigation established that the aircraft was airworthy and all mechanical systems were functioning correctly prior to the event. The investigation focused on the decision-making process and the operational oversight provided by the flight school. Investigators examined the flight planning, the crew's response to changing weather, and the communication between the flight crew and the flight school's operations department.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was a forced landing in an unprepared field necessitated by rapidly deteriorating weather conditions.
- There was a lack of effective risk management and flight monitoring by the flight school regarding evolving weather patterns.
- The flight planning was inadequate, failing to properly account for the potential for convective weather development.
- The crew demonstrated low situational awareness by failing to adequately evaluate the changing environmental conditions.
- The flight school's dispatch procedures lacked the necessary tools and protocols for comprehensive meteorological assessment and flight tracking.
Safety action
- The flight school was advised to implement strategic improvements in flight planning, specifically incorporating tools for analyzing METAR, TAF, and satellite imagery.
- Recommendations were made to optimize flight monitoring procedures to increase surveillance of ongoing operations.
- The investigation recommended that all flight training centers review induction programs for new instructors to ensure familiarity with local meteorological risks.