Accident Overview
On 11 February 2017, at 17:16 UTC, a Cessna U206G (registration 8R-CNK) operated by Air Services Limited crashed while attempting to land at Kurupung Top Airstrip in Guyana. The aircraft had departed from Bartica Airstrip with one pilot and one passenger on board, after an earlier flight from its base at Eugene F. Correia International Airport.
Flight History
The pilot reported a normal flight until approaching Kurupung Top. Rain was observed approaching from the east, preventing a direct approach. The pilot flew westward, overhead the runway, then turned onto a left downwind, left base, and final approach. Turbulence was encountered during this sequence. On short final for runway 09, the turbulence intensified. The pilot added extra power to compensate. Upon touchdown, the aircraft bounced. The pilot initiated a go-around, advancing the throttle to the required rpm and raising the flaps to 20°. The aircraft did not respond as expected and sank to the ground, landing in heavy sand and flipping over.
Injuries and Damage
Both the pilot and passenger sustained serious injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged: the nose wheel separated from the airframe, the engine with propeller detached from the firewall (which was severely wrinkled), all three propeller blades bent backward, the tail section bent upward, and the lower surface of the port wing showed a deep wrinkle with the wing strut bent approximately 60°. No fire occurred.
Pilot Information
The pilot, a 56-year-old male Guyanese, held a Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL #276) issued on 14 October 2008. His last Class 1 medical was valid until 31 May 2017 with a requirement for corrective lenses. He had approximately 9,300 total flight hours, with about 5,000 hours on the Cessna 206. His last proficiency check on type was on 17 August 2016. In the preceding 90 days, he had flown 220 hours; in the last 30 days, 98:45 hours; in the last 7 days, 27:15 hours; and in the last 24 hours, 7:35 hours.
Weather and Aerodrome
Rain was approaching the airstrip from the east at the time of the accident. The airstrip, Kurupung Top, is located at coordinates 06°04'07.64"N 060°20'06.09"W in Guyana's Region #7. The surface included heavy sand, which was a factor in the aircraft flipping over after landing.
Aircraft Information
The aircraft, a Cessna U206G (serial number not specified in source), was maintained by Air Services Limited. No pre-existing mechanical issues were reported. The mass and balance were within limits as per the pilot's statement.
Cause and Contributory Factors
The investigation determined that the cause of the accident was the pilot’s decision to go around after the aircraft had bounced on landing, at a height insufficient to complete the go-around safely. Contributory factors included turbulence during the approach and the pilot's attempt to negotiate the approach in conditions beyond his capability to manage the aircraft safely. (Note: The contributory factors are provided for context; the probable cause as stated in the source is given below.)