Introduction
On Thursday, June 13, 2013, at approximately 1750 UTC, a SAAB 340B twin turboprop regional airliner operated by SkyBahamas Airlines was involved in a runway excursion while landing at Marsh Harbour International Airport (MYAM), Abaco, Bahamas. The aircraft, bearing Bahamas registration C6-SBJ (serial number 316), was operating as Tropical Sky 9561 from Fort Lauderdale International Airport (KFLL), Florida, USA.
Sequence of Events
The flight departed KFLL at 1706 UTC on an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan. The crew selected runway 09 for landing at MYAM. At 17:45:30, the aircraft leveled off at 1,500 feet ASL on a heading of 096 degrees magnetic, with an airspeed of 236 knots indicated (KIAS). Flaps were extended to 15 degrees at 17:47:18 while level at 1,300 feet ASL, approximately 4.2 nautical miles on approach. The autopilot was disconnected at 17:47:26 at 1,300 feet ASL, about 3.8 nm from the runway. The landing gear was extended and locked by 17:48:01 as the aircraft descended through 730 feet ASL. Flaps were extended to landing flap (20 degrees) at 17:48:03, approximately 1.9 nm from the runway.
At 17:48:47, as the aircraft approached the threshold, power levers were retarded from 52 degrees, and engine torques decreased from about 20%. Approximately one second later, the aircraft crossed the threshold at a radio altitude of 50 feet AGL on a heading of 098 degrees magnetic, with an airspeed of 171 KIAS. The crew encountered rain showers and reduced visibility.
The aircraft initially touched down at 17:49:02 with a recorded vertical load factor of +2.16G, about 14 seconds after crossing the threshold. No runway markings indicated the touchdown point. The aircraft bounced, becoming airborne to a maximum height of approximately 15 feet AGL. A second bounce occurred at 17:49:07 with a vertical load factor of +3.19G, a pitch attitude of 1.8 degrees nose-down, heading 102 degrees magnetic, and airspeed 106 KIAS. The aircraft made approximately three consecutive contacts with the runway. The third and final bounce at 17:49:14 recorded a vertical load factor of +3.66G, with pitch attitude 2.2 degrees nose-down, heading 099 degrees magnetic, and airspeed 98 KIAS.
Damage and Evacuation
As a result of the hard touchdowns, the right wing and right-hand engine/propeller sustained damage. The right engine recorded a rapid loss of power with decreasing engine speed and torque, followed by propeller stoppage. At approximately 17:49:20, the aircraft veered right onto a heading of 131 degrees magnetic at a point roughly 6,044 feet from the threshold of runway 09. Airspeed was 44 KIAS, with left engine torque at 26% and right engine torque at 0%. The aircraft came to a full stop at approximately 17:49:25 on a heading of 231 degrees magnetic.
The flight and cabin crew and all 21 passengers evacuated using the main entrance door. Evacuation on the right side was not attempted due to damage. The evacuation occurred during heavy rainfall. No injuries were reported. The aircraft sustained substantial damage. The accident site elevation was approximately 10 feet MSL. Instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) prevailed.
Probable Cause
The official findings list contributing factors: inexperienced and undisciplined crew; lack of crew resource management training; failure to follow company standard operating procedures; a condition known as “get-home-itis” (attempting to continue a flight at any cost); failure to retrieve, observe, and respect weather conditions; and thunderstorms at the airfield.