What happened
On December 23, 2021, a Cessna U 206G, registration CP-1425, operated by Aero Taxi Loyola, was performing a flight from Trinidad to Estancia Misterio in the Beni department. The aircraft was carrying four occupants, including the pilot and three passengers.
Upon arriving at the destination at approximately 15:35 UTC, the pilot attempted to land on a 500-meter by 20-meter unpaved strip. Due to seasonal rains, the runway surface was extremely wet and muddy. During the landing roll, the pilot experienced a heavy impact with the nose gear and the left main landing gear. This caused the aircraft to lose control and veer off the left side of the runway.
The impact resulted in no injuries to any of the four occupants, who were able to evacuate the aircraft on their own. However, the aircraft sustained substantial damage to the propeller, nose gear, left main gear, and left wing, along with minor damage to the engine cowling.
The investigation
The investigation by the Bolivian DGAC-AIG established that the landing strip at Estancia Misterio did not possess a valid certificate of registration or inspection from the DGAC. Consequently, the airfield did not meet the technical requirements for private or restricted aerodromes as specified in RAB 137.
Investigators noted that under Bolivian Law 2902, aircraft are required to operate only from authorized aerodromes, and all aerodromes must be certified by the Aviation Authority. The investigation also confirmed that the pilot held a valid commercial pilot license and a first-class medical certificate, though with age-related restrictions on acting as a commercial air transport pilot.
Findings
- The primary cause of the event was an abnormal contact with the runway.
- Contributing factors included the poor condition of the runway surface (wet and muddy) and the aircraft's operational handling during the landing phase.
- The lack of regulatory oversight regarding the unregistered airstrip was a significant factor.