Incident Overview
On December 19, 2010, at approximately 20:25 UTC, a privately operated Cessna 182P with registration YV1597 was involved in an accident while landing at the Punta Delgada aerodrome (SVDA) on Isla La Tortuga. The aircraft had departed from Aeropuerto Metropolitano (SVMP) with one passenger on board.
Circumstances of the Accident
According to the pilot's account, the authorized runway at the destination was flooded and deemed unsuitable for landing after two overflights. Following advice from another pilot who had landed recently, the commander decided to land on a taxiway area that appeared adequate. Upon initial ground contact, the main gear skidded to the left, causing the nose gear to dig into the ground and detach completely from the airframe.
Damage and Injuries
The detachment of the nose gear resulted in the collapse of the forward fuselage. The engine spinner struck the sandy terrain while the engine was still running, bending the propeller blades beyond their limits. Structural damage occurred to the lower fuselage, engine firewall, and motor cowling. The main wheel tires fractured, and the right wingtip sustained severe damage from contact with the ground due to lateral skidding and forward pitch.
No fatalities or injuries were reported for the pilot or passenger. There was no third-party damage. Meteorological conditions were not a contributing factor. The investigation was conducted by the DGPIAAE under Venezuelan aviation regulations.