History of the Flight
On 12 April 2017, a Britten Norman BN2A-26, registration 8R-GAR, operated by Air Services Limited (ASL), departed from the company base at Eugene F. Correia International Airport at 12:14 UTC for Mahdia Airstrip. The aircraft was scheduled to perform multiple shuttles to airstrips in Region 8. The accident occurred during the second shuttle between Mahdia and Kopinang Airstrip. The previous flight was normal.
The aircraft was loaded with one passenger and cargo for the flight to Kopinang. It departed Mahdia at 15:12 UTC with an estimated flight time of 24 minutes. As the aircraft approached Kopinang, rain was observed over the airstrip, prompting the pilot to hold east of the field for about 10–15 minutes to allow the rain to pass.
The aircraft landed on Kopinang Airstrip. During the landing roll, the pilot applied brakes and felt the wheels lock up due to the wet grass surface. He modulated the brake pedal and simultaneously raised the flaps in an attempt to achieve maximum braking, but the aircraft did not stop. He then moved the mixture controls to the cut-off position and steered the aircraft toward an adjacent playfield but observed an occupied vehicle there. He then steered the aircraft into a construction site located off the end of the usable portion of the runway, where the aircraft came to a stop.
There was no fire. The pilot and one passenger were not injured and exited the aircraft unaided.
Aircraft and Operator Information
The aircraft was a Britten Norman BN2A-26, registration 8R-GAR, operated by Air Services Limited (ASL). The operator held an Air Operator Certificate and operated scheduled passenger and cargo services. The aircraft was used for shuttle flights in the interior of Guyana.
Airstrip and Weather Conditions
Kopinang Airstrip is located in Region 8, Guyana. At the time of the accident, rain was observed over the airstrip, and the pilot held before landing. The surface condition was wet grass, which affected braking performance.
Pilot Actions
The pilot modulated the brakes and raised the flaps to maximize braking effect. After the aircraft failed to stop, he shut off the mixture and steered to avoid an occupied playfield, ultimately stopping in a construction site.
Investigation
The Guyana Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation Unit (GAAIU) conducted the investigation in accordance with ICAO Annex 13. The report documented the sequence of events and noted that the pilot and passenger were not injured.