What happened
On January 6, 2023, a Piper PA-18A, registration HK861G, was conducting a private training flight at the Flaminio Suárez Camacho Airport (Guaymaral) in Bogotá, Colombia. During the flight, the crew requested to perform a short right-hand basic turn to execute a touch-and-go maneuver on runway 11.
Upon touchdown, the pilot lost control of the aircraft. The plane performed two turns on the runway surface before veering off the right side into the safety area. During the attempt to regain control, the left wing struck the ground, and the main landing gear sustained structural damage. The aircraft eventually came to a stop with its tailwheel positioned off the runway. Both occupants, the pilot and co-pilot, evacuated the aircraft without injury.
The investigation
The GRIAA investigation focused on the flight sequence and the stability of the final approach. Investigators established that the aircraft was airworthy and the crew was technically and physically fit for the operation. The investigation examined the flight path, noting that the crew had opted for a short basic turn rather than a wider, more controlled maneuver.
Technical analysis of the aircraft revealed significant damage to the propeller blades, the left wing structure, and the landing gear. The investigation also reviewed the meteorological conditions, which were within visual flight rules (VFR) limits, and confirmed that no mechanical failures were responsible for the incident.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was an unstabilized approach, which led to a hard landing and subsequent loss of control on the ground.
- The crew's lack of adequate planning for the three-point landing maneuver contributed to the event; they chose a short basic turn and a short final instead of a wider turn and a longer final approach.
- A lack of Crew Resource Management (CRM) and a loss of situational awareness resulted in the failure to execute a go-around when the approach parameters were no longer met.
Safety action
- Flight schools and instruction centers should standardize and enforce the concept of a stabilized approach, emphasizing the mandatory requirement to perform a go-around if approach criteria are not met.