Aerocon SW4 at Riberalta on Nov 3rd 2013, runway excursion on landing

Last Update: November 5, 2013 / 13:57:49 GMT/Zulu time

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Incident Facts

Date of incident
Nov 3, 2013

Classification
Accident

Cause
Runway excursion

Flight number
A4-25

Departure
Trinidad, Bolivia

Destination
Riberalta, Bolivia

Aircraft Registration
CP-2754

Aircraft Type
FAIRCHILD (1) SA-227CC Metro

ICAO Type Designator
SW4

Airport
Capitán Av. Selin Zeitun Lopez Airport, Riberalta

Airport ICAO Code
SLRI

An Aerocon Swearingen SA-227AC Metro III, registration CP-2754 performing flight A4-25 from Trinidad to Riberalta (Bolivia) with 16 passengers and 2 crew, landed on Riberalta's runway 14 in poor visibility at about 15:56L (19:56Z) however went off the runway, ran through brush, overturned and caught fire. 8 passengers perished in the accident, one of the pilots and a female passenger received serious, the other pilot and 7 passengers escaped with minor injuries.

Riberalta Airport reported the aircraft attempted to land in heavy rain and wind but ran off the runway into brush and overturned.

An airport worker said, the aircraft touched down near the end of the runway and overran the runway.

Officials said the aircraft came to rest about 300 meters outside the aerodrome.

The airline reported the Fairchild (former Swearingen) Metro 23 carried 16 passengers and 2 crew when it suffered a technical problem that led to the aircraft catching fire on landing in Riberalta.

On Nov 4th 2013 the mayor of Riberalta said, the airport did not have a single car/engine available for fire fighting, and complained the government agency responsible for administration of airports did not provide the funds to prevent accidents and properly respond to accidents.

A video (see below) shows how villagers responded to the accident and began to pull victims from the wreckage with no rescue and recovery services showing up at the site for more than 10 minutes.

On Nov 4th 2013 Bolivia's Directorate General of Civil Aviation assigned a commission to investigate the accident.

On Nov 4th 2013 Bolivia's States Attorney General opened a criminal investigation into the accident pledging that international assistance into the investigation will be needed.

Riberalta offers an asphalt runway 14/32 of 1830 meters/6000 feet length.

A photo posted on Twitter right after the accident seemed to suggest the aircraft's tail number is CP-2754 (Metro III), however, there was no trace of such a tail number at all. Official information released about 4 hours after the accident identified CP-2477 (Metro 23) instead causing The Aviation Herald identify CP-2477.

Further research showed, that an aircraft serial number AC-721B was on the FAA register as N438MA until October 22nd 2012 and was then exported to Bolivia, thus identifying the accident aircraft through the photo, The Aviation Herald returned to the original identification CP-2754 therefore.

N438MA had another accident on Oct 11th 1999 at Opa Locka Airport in Miami,FL (USA) when during the flare both engines went into ground idle causing a high rate of descent and a hard landing resulting in substantial damage, see the NTSB report.

Metars:
SLRI 032200Z 25005KT 3000 -RA BKN004 FEW020CB OVC070 23/23 Q1011=
SLRI 032100Z 19005KT 3000 -RA BKN004 FEW020CB OVC070 24/24 Q1009=
SLRI 031900Z 15008KT 5000 VCSH BKN015 FEW020CB BKN200 28/23 Q1010=
SLRI 031700Z 16008KT 7000 VCSH BKN015 FEW020CB BKN080 28/23 Q1012=
SLRI 031600Z 18010KT 9999 BKN012 BKN080 27/23 Q1014=
SLRI 031500Z 18012KT 9999 BKN008 BKN080 26/23 Q1015=
SLRI 031400Z 16010KT 9999 BKN008 BKN080 25/