Twin Commander 690 LV-BCJ Accident at Apóstoles Aerodrome

Incident Overview and Aircraft Details On September 20, 2022, at 12:00 UTC, a Twin Commander 690 with registration LV-BCJ was involved in an accident at the Apóstoles Aerodrome in the province of Misiones, Argentina. The aircraft, owned by PTA WARRANT S.A., was operating a ferry flight from San Fernando Aerodrome in Buenos Aires Province. The flight crew consisted of a pilot holding an airline transport license and a co-pilot with a commercial pilot license. The aircraft carried a total of six occupants, including two crew members and four passengers. ## Operational Context and Accident Sequence The flight departed San Fernando and proceeded to Apóstoles under visual meteorological conditions. After approximately two hours of flight, the crew encountered low ceilings and reduced visibility due to fog during the final approach to runway 24. The crew had no prior flight experience at the Apóstoles Aerodrome. Upon exiting the fog layer, the crew sighted the runway and elected to land. However, the aircraft made initial contact with the runway surface to the left of the runway centerline and with the main landing gear crossed. This abnormal contact resulted in the collapse of the landing gear. ## Damage and Post-Accident Actions Following the landing gear collapse, the aircraft slid approximately 150 meters on its fuselage. During this slide, the propeller blades made contact with the runway surface, causing them to deform and leading to a sudden engine stoppage. The aircraft sustained significant damage to the left main landing gear, the fuselage, and the propellers. Once the aircraft came to a complete stop, the crew shut down the engines and cut the hydraulic and fuel supplies before initiating an evacuation. All six occupants exited the aircraft under their own power and were reported unharmed. ## Aerodrome and Meteorological Conditions The Apóstoles Aerodrome is located 1.6 kilometers northwest of the town of Apóstoles. The runway is paved with asphalt, measures 1,850 meters by 30 meters, has a magnetic orientation of 06/24, and sits at an elevation of 177 meters. The aerodrome did not have instrument approach systems or a Fire and Rescue Service (SSEI) at the time of the accident. Meteorological data from the National Meteorological Service indicated that at the time of the incident, the wind was from 090° at 05 knots, visibility was 10 kilometers, and the sky was 2/8 overcast with a ceiling of 300 meters. Fog was present, with a temperature of 16.2°C, a dew point of 14.8°C, and a relative humidity of 91%.