Colombian investigators are recommending that civil aviation authorities conduct an immediate inspection of San Felipe airport to ensure that it complies with safety requirements, after landing accident involving a Douglas DC-3.
The inspection should particularly focus on runway maintenance and the removal of foreign objects, says Colombian accident investigation authority GRIAA.
Operated by Air Colombia, the DC-3 (HK-3293) had been conducting a visual approach to San Felipe with nine passengers and a crew of three, along with 1.8t of cargo.
But as the aircraft landed on runway 18, it gradually pulled to the left. As the crew attempted to correct the DC-3’s track, it veered off the runway 280m after touchdown, listing to the left and causing the wing and propeller to strike the ground.
It came to rest, facing north-east, 434m from the threshold, having sustained substantial damage to its left-hand engine, propeller and wing.
Examination of the tyre marks on the runway surface showed that the left-hand tyre’s tread was nearly 50% wider than its right-hand counterpart. The investigation also found a 15cm iron rod embedded in the inside wall of the left-hand tyre.
Inspection of the runway also found a 13cm iron rod on its surface “located in the path” of the left wheel track of the DC-3.
Passengers and crew evacuated the aircraft. Flight Fleets Analyzer lists the Air Colombia DC-3 as a 75-year old airframe.
Source: Cirium Dashboard
