Incident Overview
On March 16, 2024, at approximately 13:25 local time (18:25 UTC), a Piper PA-34-220T aircraft, registration HK4569, experienced a runway excursion during landing at Flaminio Suarez Camacho Airport (SKGY) in Chía, Colombia. The aircraft was conducting a special aerial work flight in air ambulance configuration, carrying six occupants: a pilot, a copilot, a doctor, a nurse, a patient, and an accompanying person. The flight originated from Puerto Inírida (SKPD) and was destined for Guaymaral Airport.
Sequence of Events
After an uneventful flight under visual flight rules (VFR) in daytime visual meteorological conditions (VMC), the crew initiated the approach to runway 11 at SKGY. Air traffic control provided wind information from 020 degrees at 6 knots. The aircraft touched down, and within seconds, it began deviating to the right of the runway centerline. The pilot attempted to maintain directional control by applying asymmetric engine thrust, but the aircraft skidded further right, departing the runway and coming to rest in the safety area. The crew shut down the engines and coordinated the evacuation of all occupants without assistance. The airport fire service responded but did not use extinguishing agents or aid in the evacuation.
Damage and Injuries
The aircraft sustained substantial damage: the main landing gear structures were damaged, and both engines experienced a sudden stoppage, resulting in blade tip damage from contact with the terrain. None of the six occupants reported any injuries.
Aircraft and Crew Information
The aircraft was a Piper PA-34-220T, a twin-engine light aircraft. The pilot, aged 39, held a Commercial Pilot License with multi-engine land ratings and had accumulated 2,342:55 total flight hours, including 1,110 hours on the PA-34. His last proficiency check on type was on September 11, 2023. The copilot's information was not detailed in the report. The flight crew had recently completed air ambulance training and crew resource management courses.
Probable Cause and Contributing Factors
The investigation determined the probable cause of this serious incident was the crew's difficulty in maintaining control of the aircraft during the landing roll due to a loss of tire pressure in the right main landing gear wheel. The complete loss of tire pressure caused excessive drag from the right wheel after a momentary runway excursion, further hindering directional control until the final excursion. Contributing factors included a left crosswind during landing and a high approach and landing speed.