What happened
On June 6, flight PY764, a McDonnell Douglas DC-8-60 registered as N180COE, departed Amsterdam-Schiphol Airport for Paramaribo. During the final stages of the flight, the crew received updated weather reports indicating that visibility at Zanderij Airport had dropped to 900 meters due to fog. Despite the lack of operational ILS availability, the captain attempted to use the signal and proceeded with a VOR/DME approach to runway 10.
As the aircraft descended through stratus clouds, the crew maintained that the runway was in sight. However, the pilot continued the descent below the required minimum altitude for the VOR/DME procedure of 560 feet and below the ILS/DME approach minimum of 260 feet. Although the Ground Proximity Warning System issued multiple glideslope alerts, the warnings were deactivated. During the final seconds of the approach, the number two engine struck a tree, followed by the right wing hitting another tree. This caused the aircraft to roll into an inverted position, striking the ground and resulting in a breakup and subsequent fire.
Findings
The investigation identified that the primary cause was the captain's reckless operation of the aircraft below published minimum altitudes. Additionally, the inquiry highlighted significant regulatory failures regarding crew qualifications. The captain was 66 years old, exceeding the age limit of 60 for commercial pilots under Surinam regulations. Furthermore, his recent proficiency training had been conducted on a GA-7 Cougar rather than the DC-8. The investigation also noted that the operator's management failed to properly oversee the certification and recruitment procedures for crew members provided by Air Crew International.