Aires 737-700 crashes on landing in San Andres

By Rainer Uphoff

At least one person has died after a Boeing 737-700 operated by Colombian carrier Aires crashed on landing at the Caribbean island of San Andres after a flight from Bogota.

Colombian civil aviation authority Aerocivil confirms the accident, saying that the 737-700, registered HK-4682, with Aires flight number 8250 had departed from Bogota around midnight local time and crashed at its destination airport at 01:49.

It was transporting 121 passengers and six crew members. A local air force official says that there is one fatality and 34 people have been hospitalised while another 70 have received local treatment for lighter injuries.

He also says that there was a thunderstorm close to the airport at the time of the accident. The aircraft has apparently broken up although no further details are currently available. The airport of San Andres is closed to commercial traffic as a result.

Accident: Aires B737 at San Andres Island on Aug 16th 2010, broke up on landing
By Simon Hradecky, created Monday, Aug 16th 2010 12:31Z, last updated Monday, Aug 16th 2010 12:43Z

An Aires Boeing 737-700, registration HK-4682 performing flight 4C-8250 from Bogota to San Andres Island (Colombia) with 121 passengers and 6 crew, touched down about 80 meters (260 feet) short of the runway and broke up in three parts while landing at San Andres Island Airport at 01:49L (06:49Z). One passenger was killed, 34 passengers received non life threatening injuries of varying degrees. All survivors were taken to a local hospital for treatment or checks.

San Andres Island Police reported, that the airplane was struck by lightning just as it flared and touched down.

Colombia's CAA confirmed the accident but did not have any details. At the time of the accident the visibility was reported at 4000 meters (13000 feet) with thunderstorms in the area.

Metars:
SKSP 161200Z 00000KT 9999 FEW013 SCT080 BKN200 26/24 A2987 RETSRA
SKSP 161100Z 00000KT 9999 FEW013CB SCT080 27/25 A2985 RMK LTNG/CB/E
SKSP 160500Z 07006KT 9999 FEW016 SCT200 29/26 A2990
SKSP 160400Z VRB02KT 9999 BKN016TCU SCT200 29/26 A2991
SKSP 160400Z VRB02KT 9999 BKN016 TCU SCT200 29/26 A2991
SKSP 160300Z 06003KT 9999 FEW016 BKN200 29/26 A2989
SKSP 160200Z 06003KT 9999 FEW016 BKN200 29/26 A2988
SKSP 160100Z 07004KT 9999 FEW018 SCT200 29/25 A2986

ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 76364
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Date: 16-AUG-2010
Time: 01:49
Type: Boeing 737-73V
Operator: Aires
Registration: HK-4682
C/n / msn: 32416/1270
Fatalities: Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 127
Other fatalities: 0
Airplane damage: Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Location: San Andrés Island Airport (ADZ/SKSP) - Colombia
Phase: Landing
Nature: Domestic Scheduled Passenger
Departure airport: Bogotá-Eldorado Airport (BOG/SKBO)
Destination airport: San Andrés Island Airport (ADZ/SKSP)
Narrative:
Aires Flight 8250 crashed on landing in a storm.
One occupant died, 114 were injured and six were unharmed.
Weather around the time of the accidet (01:49 local, 06:49 UTC):
SKSP 160500Z 07006KT 9999 FEW016 SCT200 29/26 A2990=
SKSP 161100Z 00000KT 9999 FEW013CB SCT080 27/25 A2985 RMK LTNG/CB/E=

Vedendo le foto è sorprendente che ci sia stata una sola vittima.

Colombian Grupo de Investigacion de Accidentes (CGIA) released their final report in Spanish concluding the probable cause of the accident was:execution of the final approach below proper approach angle, due to a judgement error by the crew who believed they were much higher. The crew steered the aircraft along a trajectory that is typical for a "Black Hole Illusion", which is experienced during an approach in night conditions to a runway surrounded by minimum contrast however bright focussed lights aggravated by poor weather conditions (rain).