What happened
On January 1, 2019, a Cessna 172M, registration CP-1214, was performing a visual flight rules (VFR) landing at Santa Ana del Yacuma airport in Bolivia. The aircraft, which was carrying the pilot and three passengers, had departed from Trinidad earlier that afternoon.
As the aircraft touched down on runway 33, it initially made contact with the pavement but quickly veered off the runway centerline. The excursion was caused by a wind gust that lifted the aircraft from the ground, leading it to travel approximately 50 meters northeast of the runway edge. During the excursion, the nose gear strut fractured, causing the aircraft to strike the terrain. The impact resulted in damage to the propeller blade, the engine cowling, and the firewall, as well as denting to the left side of the fuselage.
The investigation
The Bolivian AIG unit examined the flight records, maintenance logs, and meteorological data from the time of the event. Investigators confirmed that the pilot held a valid private pilot license and was medically fit for flight. The aircraft's maintenance records showed it had been serviced by an approved organization and was in an airworthy condition.
Meteorological reports indicated that while visibility was good, there were active winds from 340 degrees at approximately 15 knots, with nearby cumulonimbus clouds and localized showers. The investigation also reviewed the aircraft's weight and balance, concluding that the center of gravity was within operational limits and did not contribute to the accident.
Findings
- The primary cause of the runway excursion was a meteorological factor involving wind conditions during the landing phase.
- A contributing factor was the pilot's insufficient experience in managing landing risks associated with crosswind conditions.
- There were no injuries to the pilot or the three passengers, all of whom evacuated the aircraft successfully.