What happened
On July 3, 2018, a private Cessna U206C, registration CP-2993, was performing a visual flight rules (VFR) flight from Trinidad to Estancia La Fortuna in the Beni department of Bolivia. The pilot had conducted a low pass over the destination runway prior to landing to ensure the strip was clear of animals.
During the final approach to runway 34, the aircraft touched down approximately 30 meters before the runway threshold. The landing surface consisted of uneven, soft earth mounds. Upon impact with the first mound, the nose gear was damaged; as the aircraft continued along the second and third mounds, the nose gear was completely severed from the airframe. This caused the propeller to strike the ground, resulting in severe damage to the propeller blades and the forward fuselage. The aircraft slid approximately 20 meters along the strip before coming to a stop. The pilot and one passenger sustained minor injuries (contusions) and were evacuated from the aircraft by local residents.
The investigation
The Bolivian DGAC-AIG investigation examined the aircraft's maintenance records, the pilot's credentials, and the physical site of the accident. Investigators confirmed that the aircraft's airworthiness certificate and the pilot's commercial license and medical certificate were both valid at the time of the occurrence. Maintenance logs indicated that the engine and propeller had been serviced by an authorized maintenance organization.
The investigation focused on the landing characteristics and the nature of the landing strip. The site was identified as an unregistered runway with limited obstacle clearance due to high vegetation/trees surrounding the area. The investigation also noted that while the aircraft's systems and engines were functioning correctly, the impact with the uneven terrain led to the structural failure of the nose gear.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was an undershoot, with the aircraft touching down 30 meters before the threshold of runway 34.
- The landing strip was unregistered and featured uneven, soft earth mounds that contributed to the nose gear failure.
- High vegetation surrounding the short runway limited the available approach path.
- A possible factor was pilot overconfidence during the approach to the unpaved surface.