Incident Overview

Date: Sunday 3 November 2013
Aircraft Type: Fairchild SA227-AC Metro III
Owner/operator: Aerocon
Registration Number: CP-2754
Location: Riberalta Airport (RIB) – ÿ Bolivia
Phase of Flight: Landing
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 8 / Occupants: 18
Component Affected: Aircraft (Swearingen Metro III)Aircraft (Swearingen Metro III)
Category: Accident
A Swearingen Metro III aircraft crashed near Riberalta Airport (RIB) in Bolivia, resulting in the deaths of eight passengers and ten survivors. The flight departed Trinidad Airport (TDD) at 14:58, destined for Riberalta. The Riberalta Tower controller cleared the flight for RNAV GNSS-Z approach to runway 32 and then a circle. At 15:55, the crew reported passing the BIXIN intermediate fix (IF) at 15:55. Upon short final, the aircraft performed a right-hand turn and impacted the ground, resulting in a crash landing inverted.A Swearingen Metro III aircraft crashed near Riberalta Airport (RIB) in Bolivia, resulting in the deaths of eight passengers and ten survivors. The flight departed Trinidad Airport (TDD) at 14:58, destined for Riberalta. The Riberalta Tower controller cleared the flight for RNAV GNSS-Z approach to runway 32 and then a circle. At 15:55, the crew reported passing the BIXIN intermediate fix (IF) at 15:55. Upon short final, the aircraft performed a right-hand turn and impacted the ground, resulting in a crash landing inverted.

Description

A Swearingen Metro III operated by Aerocon was destroyed in an accident near Riberalta Airport (RIB), Bolivia. Eight occupants were killed, ten survived. Aerocon Flight 25 departed Trinidad Airport (TDD), Bolivia at 14:58 on a domestic flight to Riberalta. The Riberalta Tower controller cleared the flight for an RNAV GNSS-Z approach for runway 32 and then circle for an approach to runway 14. The controller reported that winds were from the south at 7 knots. Visibility was 3000 m due to rain. The flight reported over the BIXIN intermediate fix (IF) at 15:55. At 15:57 the crew reported passing the EDNAX point, which is at 5 nautical miles (9,3 km) from the runway 32 threshold. The controller then cautioned the crew that the runway was wet. On short final the airplane performed a right hand turn and impacted the ground 300 m from the threshold of runway 32 and 60 m to the right of the centreline. The aircraft came to rest inverted and was consumed by the fire.

Primary Cause

Weather conditions, specifically heavy rain and visibility reduction, contributed to the incident.Weather conditions, specifically heavy rain and visibility reduction, contributed to the incident.

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