What happened
On 4 March 2015, a BAe ATP freighter, registration PK-DGB, operated by PT. Deraya Air, was performing a scheduled cargo flight from Sentani to Wamena Airport. The flight crew, consisting of a pilot in command and a second in command, arrived at the vicinity of Wamena under challenging meteorological conditions. At the time of the approach, the area was experiencing continuous heavy rain with visibility reduced to between 2 and 3 kilometers.
Following instructions from the Wamena Tower controller, the aircraft transitioned to a left downwind pattern for runway 33. Upon reaching the turning base leg, the pilot identified the runway and continued the approach. The aircraft touched down approximately 200 meters from the start of the runway. During the landing roll, the aircraft veered to the right and began to skid. The aircraft briefly exited the runway surface before re-entering the pavement at the 400-meter mark. The excursion ended near taxiway Delta, approximately 800 meters from the runway threshold.
The investigation
The investigation conducted by the KNKT established that the aircraft was airworthy and the flight crew held valid licenses and medical certificates. The investigation focused on the aircraft's movement during the landing roll and the environmental conditions present at the time of touchdown. Physical evidence showed that the aircraft's nose landing gear and left main landing gear became detached during the event. Additionally, the left engine was dislocated from the airframe, and the propeller blades on the left engine, along with the radome, sustained breakage. The impact also caused damage to a runway light.
Findings
- The approach was conducted during continuous heavy rain with significantly reduced visibility.
- The aircraft experienced a loss of directional control during the landing roll, leading to a skid and excursion from the runway centerline.
- The flight crew was operating in weather conditions that necessitated high precision due to the slippery runway surface.