Bocas del Toro

The airplane departed Panama City-Marcos A. Gelabert Airport at 2013LT on a regular schedule service (flight PST982) to Bocas del Toro, carrying 35 passengers and three crew members. The approach to Bocas del Toro-Capitán José Ezequiel Hall Airport was completed at night and the runway was wet by recent rain falls. After touchdown on runway 27, the airplane started to slid then veered off to the right. While contacting soft ground, the undercarriage were torn off and the airplane slid for few dozen metres. The right wing was sheared off while contacting a fence then the airplane came to a halt with the empennage that also separated from the main fuselage. All 38 occupants were quickly rescued and there were no serious injuries.

Shortly after takeoff from runway 36, while climbing to a height of 50 feet, the crew raised the landing gear when the aircraft stalled. It landed back on the runway about 380 metres from the runway end. It slid on all this distance, overran then turned to the left and came to rest in a grassy area about 60 metres past the runway end. All 13 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Following an uneventful flight from Panama City, the crew completed the approach and landing at Bocas del Toro Airport. After touchdown on a wet runway following heavy rain falls, the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran, lost its undercarriage and came to rest in bushes. All occupants were rescued, among them few were slightly injures. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

The pilot, sole on board, was returning to his base at Panama City-Albrook Marcos A. Gelabert Airport after he dropped seven passengers in Bocas del Toro. En route, the twin engine aircraft was lost without trace. SAR operations were initiated but eventually suspended on January 8, 2003, as no trace of the aircraft nor the pilot was found.

Upon landing at Bocas del Toro, in unclear circumstances, the aircraft went out of control and veered off runway. It lost its undercarriage and came to rest in a sugarcane field. All eight occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

The airplane suffered a structural failure in flight and a subsequent fire, forcing the pilot to abandon the aircraft and to bail out. The pilot survived and the aircraft dove into the ground and was destroyed.