Incident Overview
For reasons that have not been established, a four-engine airplane experienced a hard landing at Bucaramanga-Palonegro Airport. The aircraft struck the runway with considerable force and bounced into the air. It then touched down hard again, repeating this cycle multiple times. After the final bounce, the airplane made firm contact with the runway surface on the latter portion of the landing distance.
Tactical Decision
The captain assessed the situation and concluded that the remaining runway was insufficient to stop the aircraft safely. He made the decision to steer off the runway and performed a sharp right turn. As the turn progressed, both left main landing gear and the nose landing gear failed structurally.
Final Position
With both left engines contacting the ground, the aircraft departed the runway environment and came to rest. All 22 individuals on board evacuated the airplane without incident. The aircraft sustained damage so extensive that repair was not economically viable.