Flight History
On 7 September 2019, an ATR 72-212A, registration HK5041, operated by Regional Express Américas S.A.S., was scheduled for multiple flights. The first flight, AVA4850, departed Bogotá's Eldorado Airport (SKBO) at 11:29 UTC and landed at Manizales' La Nubia Airport (SKMZ) at 12:08 UTC with 54 passengers and 5 crew. The second flight, AVA4851, departed SKMZ at 12:52 UTC and landed at SKBO at 13:31 UTC with 65 passengers and 5 crew. The accident flight, AVA4852, was a return trip from SKBO to SKMZ, carrying 5 crew (including the pilot, copilot, two flight attendants, and one observer flight attendant) and 49 passengers, with 2,100 kg of fuel. Pushback and engine start began at 15:07 UTC.
Accident Sequence
During landing on runway 10 at La Nubia Airport, the aircraft experienced an abnormal runway contact. According to the investigation, the crew induced a pitch-down at approximately 100 feet AGL and reduced engine power to 3%, resulting in a gradual loss of altitude and lift in the final approach phase. This led to a hard landing. Subsequently, the crew induced a pitch-up exceeding 9.4°, causing the ventral section of the empennage to strike the runway (tail strike). The aircraft bounced twice on the runway. The pilot in command regained control, decelerated the aircraft, and taxied it to the apron under its own power.
Aircraft and Injuries
The aircraft sustained substantial structural damage. One cabin crew member suffered a minor injury; no other injuries to crew or passengers were reported. There was no post-impact fire. The accident occurred in daylight and under visual meteorological conditions (VMC).
Investigation Findings
The investigation, conducted by the Grupo de Investigación de Accidentes (GRIAA), determined the following probable causes:
- Abnormal runway contact involving a tail strike during landing.
- A pitch-down induced by the crew at approximately 100 feet AGL, combined with engine power reduction to 3%, leading to a gradual loss of altitude and lift in the final approach phase and a hard landing.
- A pitch-up induced by the crew exceeding 9.4° as altitude was lost in the last segment of the final approach, causing the tail strike.
Contributing factors were tailwind conditions at the time of landing and the high density altitude of the aerodrome, which increased the aircraft's ground speed.
The report also noted that the crew's actions deviated from standard operational procedures. Recommendations were issued to Regional Express Américas and the Colombian Civil Aviation Authority.