Aerocon Swearingen 227 plane crash
Riberalta, Bolivia
Updated on
The Fairchild Swearingen SA-227AC Metro III operated by Aerocon took off from Trinidad, Bolivia, for a passenger flight to Riberalta, Bolivia. 16 passengers and 2 crewmembers were onboard. The plane went off the runway after landing at Riberalta airport. Eight of the eighteen occupants onboard perished in the accident.
The plane was approaching Riberalta's runway 14 in heavy rain, wind and poor visibility. The plane touched down on the asphalt, but then went off the runway, ran through brush, overturned and caught fire. A witness reported the plane touch down near the end of the runway. The aircraft came to rest about 300 meters outside the aerodrome.
8 passengers perished in the accident, one of the pilots and a passenger received serious injuries, the other pilot and 7 passengers escaped with minor injuries.
Riberalta offers an asphalt runway 14/32 of 1830 meters/6000 feet length.