Created Saturday, May 17th 2025 15:59Z, last updated Monday, Feb 16th 2026 18:57Z
An Air Panama Fokker 50, registration HP-1899PST performing flight
7P-982 from Panama City to Bocas del Toro (Panama) with 32 passengers and 3 crew, landed on Bocas del Toro's runway 27 at 22:01L (03:01Z May 17th) but veered right off the runway and came to a stop after colliding with vegetation about 1000 meters/3300 feet down the runway. There were no injuries, the aircraft sustained substantial damage beyond repair.
Panama's AAC confirmed the accident stating that all 35 passengers and 3 crew were not injured. The aircraft went off the runway at 22:01L. An investigation has been opened.
In June 2025 the AAC released their Preliminary report in Spanish summarizing the sequence of events:
The first officer was pilot flying, the captain pilot monitoring for the sector. Upon contacting tower the tower reported moderate rain, calm winds and a wet runway. The captain indicated they would fly the approach to 10nm before the runway and if not possible they would divert. Subsequently the captain advised ATC they were at 10nm and were to commence the final approach. Tower advised there was electrical activity (CB, Thunderstorms) over the aerodrome now, tower had the aircraft in visual contact at 4nm. The crew advised they had the runway in sight and were cleared to land on runway 27, winds calm, caution wet runway. After touch down the aircraft veered off the runway at the right hand side and came to a stop about 720 meters past the runway threshold and about 13 meters off the right hand edge of the runway at coordinates N9.3408 W82.2508. Evidence of brake marks from both main gears were found 502 meters past the runway threshold.
One of the crew received serious injuries, the two other crew members and the passengers minor/no injuries.
The aircraft suffered the detachment of the tail section, an engine and the right wing, the left wing partially detached, the left hand engine partially detached, the right hand engine detached completely.
The AAC released their final report in Spanish only (Editorial note: to serve the purpose of global prevention of the repeat of causes leading to an occurrence an additional timely release of all occurrence reports in the only world spanning aviation language English would be necessary, a Spanish only or no release does not achieve this purpose as set by ICAO annex 13 and just forces many aviators to waste much more time and effort each in trying to understand the circumstances leading to the occurrence. Aviators operating internationally are required to read/speak English besides their local language, investigators need to be able to read/write/speak English to communicate with their counterparts all around the globe). The report concludes the probable causes of the accident were:
The approach deviated to the right side of the runway centreline, then after the aircraft made contact with the ground, it lost control, resulting in a runway excursion (RE) on that same side.
Contributing factors
- Failure to comply with flight dispatch requirements to obtain accurate meteorological information for the flight.
- Lack of supervision and control over the dispatch of the aircraft on the ground.
- The crew's decision to continue with the flight.
- Pilot in command did not take control of the aircraft for landing.
- Poor visual conditions on the runway (dark surface, visibility reduced by rain).
- Approach deviated to the right side of the runway centreline and landing was destabilised.
All available recent Metars:
MPBO 171500Z 23003KT 9999 SCT020 ///// Q1013=
MPBO 171400Z 22004KT 9999 SCT020 ///// Q1013=
MPBO 171300Z 26004KT 9999 SCT020 ///// Q1012=
MPBO 171200Z 26002KT 9999 SCT020 SCT080 ///// Q1011=
The aircraft after the runway excursion:
Map (Graphics: AVH/Google Earth):
Related Flight:
7P982,
Air Panama News
