What happened
On November 15, 2018, a Jetstream 32 (registration HK4394) was performing a non-scheduled passenger flight from Medellín to Bahía Solano, Colombia. The aircraft was carrying two crew members and 14 passengers, including two infants.
During the landing on runway 18 at José Celestino Mutis Airport, the aircraft experienced a runway excursion. The crew performed a landing with a high approach angle and excessive speed, resulting in the aircraft contacting the runway 670 meters beyond the threshold. Despite heavy and intermittent braking, the aircraft could not stop within the remaining runway length. The aircraft drifted to the right, exiting the runway and coming to a sudden stop in a muddy area 18 meters from the runway centerline. All 14 occupants were uninjured and evacuated the aircraft safely.
The investigation
The GRIAA investigation established that the aircraft was airworthy and the crew was properly certified for the operation. However, the investigation revealed that the operator had scheduled the flight to an airport with a runway length of 1,200 meters, which was insufficient for the aircraft's landing weight and the prevailing conditions, as a required length of 1,460 meters was necessary.
Investigators found that the crew failed to maintain a stabilized approach. Although the controller had relayed information regarding a potential tailwind, the crew proceeded with the landing despite the high approach speed and angle. Furthermore, the investigation noted that the airport lacked critical operational information, such as accurate wind and temperature data, and had poorly visible runway markings and inadequate safety zones.
Findings
- The primary cause was a runway excursion resulting from a long landing following an unstabilized approach characterized by high speed and a steep descent angle.
- The crew demonstrated a lack of situational awareness by failing to recognize or correct the unstabilized approach parameters.
- Poor decision-making by the crew led them to continue the landing instead of executing a missed approach when a long landing became evident.
- The absence of a sterile cockpit environment during the final approach phase reduced the crew's situational awareness.
- The aircraft operator failed to provide adequate oversight by scheduling a flight to a runway that was too short for the aircraft's landing weight and the environmental conditions.
- Substantial damage was sustained by the Jetstream 32, specifically to the engines, propeller blades, and the rear fuselage.