What happened
During a local flight operation, an aircraft carrying 17 passengers and a crew of four departed from Cocos Island Airport. After reaching an initial altitude of 5,000 feet, the crew began a descent to perform a low-altitude pass over the airfield.
As the aircraft approached the airport at approximately 300 feet and a speed of 380 knots, the pilot-in-command applied additional engine power in an attempt to climb. This maneuver resulted in the loss of several components from the left wing. The subsequent intense vibrations and loss of flight control stability prompted the crew to execute an emergency landing attempt in the vicinity of the airport.
During the landing sequence, the aircraft impacted the ground, causing the undercarriage to detach. The plane eventually came to a stop in shallow water. During the impact, a piece of the propeller punctured the fuselage, leading to the death of one passenger. The remaining 20 occupants managed to exit the wreckage without injury. The aircraft was determined to be a total loss due to the extent of the damage.
Findings
- The structural integrity of the left wing was compromised during a high-speed, low-altitude maneuver.
- Increasing engine power during a low-altitude pass triggered the detachment of wing components.