Factual information-gathering phase almost complete
– Minister Benn
A TEAM of investigators probing the circumstances that caused a Caribbean Airlines’ aircraft to crash-land at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport before splitting in two, at around 01:30hrs on July 30 last year, is close to completing the factual information-gathering phase.
Works Minister Robeson Benn, who has responsibility for the transport sector, made the announcement yesterday in an update of the probe, according to a Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) release.
The next phase to follow will be an extensive and detailed analysis of the factual information, during which additional research and assistance, and outside expertise from organisations such as the National Transport Safety Board (NTSB) of the United States of America and the Caribbean Aviation Safety and Security Oversight System (CASSOS), may be required. At the end of the analysis phase, findings, conclusions and safety recommendations will be developed, the release stated. 
At this stage, it appears that the primary contributing factor in this accident was that the aircraft, BW 523, made a long landing and touched down with insufficient runway remaining to come to a safe stop.
Detailed analyses will examine several other aspects of this flight to identify any other possible contributing factors, in order to learn from this accident and to help identify any measures which may assist in preventing future occurrences.
It is expected, as is the case in most other major accidents, that the analysis and development of conclusions may take at least another year, and will follow the established process of rigorous examination of all aspects relating to the occurrence, the release further added.
GCAA authorities are getting assistance from NTSB and CASSOS in investigating the crash, which miraculously had no fatalities but saw four of the 154 passengers and six crew members aboard being seriously injured.
One of the injured passengers was Noel Elliot, an overseas-based Guyanese who was coming home to visit his wife and other relatives. He has since had his leg amputated in a New York hospital, where he was flown in the hope of having the limb saved.
Elliott, who was admitted to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC), had showed signs of recovery and was discharged, but subsequently had to be flown to the US for post-recovery care. However, the doctors in the US advised that amputation was necessary after they examined the damaged leg.
The hapless aircraft has since been dismantled and removed from the crash site, and Caribbean Airlines Limited (CAL) has also retired flight number BW 523, in accordance with standard practice after an incident of this nature.