What happened
On November 26, 2024, at approximately 11:55 local time, a Piper PA-28-161, registration HK-499 and 98G, was involved in a ground loss of control incident at Ernesto Cortissoz Airport in Barranquilla, Colombia. The aircraft, operated by a flight training center, was conducting a local instructional flight with an instructor and a student pilot.
After completing a series of maneuvers in the traffic pattern, the crew decided to land as a weather front was approaching from the west. The landing on runway 05 was completed without incident. However, while taxiing via taxiway Alpha toward the flight school hangar, the aircraft was struck by a severe wind gust associated with an approaching thunderstorm. The gust suddenly lifted the rear of the fuselage, causing the aircraft to rotate abruptly on its transverse axis. During this movement, the left wing and propeller struck the pavement, leading to a sudden engine stoppage and significant structural damage.
The investigation
The GRIAA investigation examined the meteorological conditions, operational procedures, and the physical damage to the aircraft. Investigators confirmed that while the initial flight planning and takeoff occurred under favorable VFR conditions, a thunderstorm moved rapidly over the aerodrome. Automated meteorological station data recorded wind gusts of up to 21 knots at the time of the event.
The investigation also reviewed the flight training center's risk assessment protocols. While the crew had consulted METAR reports prior to the flight, the rapid evolution of the storm was not fully anticipated. The investigation noted that the current risk assessment format used by the operator primarily focuses on the origin and destination aerodromes, potentially overlooking changing conditions at other locations.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was the loss of control on the ground due to a severe wind gust associated with a rapidly approaching thunderstorm.
- The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the left wing, including skin deformations and punctures, as well as damage to the propeller tips and the engine cowling.
- The crew successfully exited the aircraft without injuries, and no fire was reported.
- The existing risk analysis process at the training center lacked the inclusion of TAF (Terminal Aerodrome Forecast) data and meteorological information for alternate aerodromes.
Safety action
- The flight training center is advised to establish specific procedures for taxiing during high winds or thunderstorms, including protocols to halt taxiing until conditions improve.
- Pilot training should be reinforced regarding the management of severe wind gusts during both flight and ground operations.
- The operator should update risk assessment forms to include meteorological information and TAFs for all aerodromes listed in flight plans, including alternates.