Air Panama Fokker F-50 plane crash

The Fokker 50 operated by Air Panama was operating a passenger flight between Panama City and Bocas del Toro, Panama. There were 32 passengers and 3 crew members on board. During a nighttime landing at Bocas del Toro Airport, the aircraft overran the runway and sustained substantial damage. All 35 occupants evacuated the aircraft and no fatalities were reported.

The flight had been delayed for several hours due to weather conditions. The approach and landing were carried out at night and in rain. The approach deviated to the right of the runway centreline. After the aircraft made contact with the ground, the crew lost control, resulting in a runway excursion on the same side. The aircraft suffered the detachment of the rear section of the fuselage, one engine and the right wing. The left wing partially detached, as did the left engine, while the right engine detached completely. One crew member sustained serious injuries, while the other two crew members and the passengers sustained minor or no injuries.

The contributing factors were:

• Failure to comply with flight dispatch requirements to obtain accurate meteorological information for the flight.
• Lack of supervision and control over the preparation and dispatch of the aircraft on the ground.
• The crew's decision to continue with the flight.
• The pilot in command did not take control of the aircraft for landing.
• Poor visual conditions on the runway (dark surface and visibility reduced by rain).
• The approach deviated to the right of the runway centreline and the landing was destabilised.

The aircraft was registered HP-1899PST. It was destroyed as a result of the accident.