What happened
On December 18, 2021, an Antonov AN26B, registration HK4730, was conducting a non-scheduled cargo flight from San José del Guaviare to Mitú, Colombia. The aircraft was carrying 3,600 kg of cargo and 15 passengers, alongside a crew of three.
As the aircraft approached the Fabio A. León Bentley Airport, the pilot executed an unauthorized and unnecessary low-altitude maneuver over runway 02. During a right-hand turn at an altitude of approximately 10 meters, the right wingtip struck the safety area of the runway. The contact lasted for approximately three seconds along a distance of 34 meters. Although the crew felt the impact, the aircraft remained controllable. The pilot applied full power to level the wings and continued the flight, eventually landing without further incident. There were no injuries among the 18 occupants, though the aircraft sustained significant damage to the right wingtip and right aileron.
The investigation
The GRIAA investigation examined flight data from the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and cockpit voice recordings. The FDR confirmed a 27-degree bank angle during the maneuver, coinciding with the ground contact. The investigation also reviewed the crew's qualifications, the aircraft's maintenance history, and the operator's oversight protocols. Investigators found that the crew was technically and physically fit for the operation and that the aircraft was in an airworthy condition prior to the event. The investigation focused on the pilot's decision to perform a "demonstration" maneuver and the lack of operational oversight by the operator.
Findings
- The primary cause was the collision of the right wing with the ground resulting from the pilot's execution of an unnecessary, ostentatious, and dangerous low-altitude demonstration maneuver.
- A contributing factor was the lack of strict operational standards and inadequate supervision by the operator, which allowed for unsafe flight deviations.
- The maneuver was performed without any operational necessity or justification.