What happened
On November 24, 2023, a PA-28R-201T, registration HK 2140-G, was performing a private VFR flight from Medellín's Olaya Herrera Airport to Alí Piedrahíta Aerodrome in Urrao, Antioquia. During the landing phase on runway 33, the aircraft experienced a runway excursion.
Upon arrival, the pilot observed fluctuating wind conditions via the aerodrome's windsock and initiated a left-hand traffic pattern. During the final approach, the pilot configured the aircraft with full flaps. However, the aircraft crossed the runway threshold at an indicated airspeed of 92 KIAS, significantly higher than the 75 KIAS recommended in the Pilot's Operating Handbook for that configuration. The aircraft made contact with the runway at approximately 2,320 feet from the threshold, leaving only 516 feet of remaining runway. Despite the pilot applying progressive braking and using aerodynamic braking techniques, the aircraft could not stop before overshooting the threshold, eventually coming to rest in the overrun area near the threshold of runway 15.
The aircraft sustained substantial damage, including the loss of the nose and right main landing gear, structural deformation of the wings, and a damaged propeller. The pilot sustained a minor head injury, while the passenger remained uninjured.
The investigation
The GRIAA investigation focused on the flight parameters, the aircraft's weight and balance, and the aerodrome's infrastructure. Investigators analyzed the approach speed and landing distance, determining that the aircraft required 720 feet of runway to stop under maximum braking, but only 516 feet were available after the long touchdown. The investigation also examined the pilot's recent flight experience and the operational limitations of the Alí Piedrahíta Aerodrome, noting the lack of aeronautical information services and the poor condition of the runway surface, which featured asphalt detachment and loose debris.