Accident Description
On January 13, 2020, a Cessna A152, registration N21914GM, operated by a private pilot with one passenger, was conducting a local flight from Aeródromo Marcel Marchant (SCPF) in Puerto Montt, Chile. After a 30-minute flight, the aircraft returned for landing on runway 19. During touchdown, the airplane began to veer left. The pilot was unable to correct the deviation, and the aircraft exited the left side of the runway, traveling 174 meters on terrain before coming to a stop. The pilot and passenger were uninjured and evacuated the aircraft unaided. The aircraft sustained damage to the propeller, nose landing gear, and right wing.
Aircraft Information
The accident aircraft was a Cessna A152, serial number A1520901, manufactured in 1980. It was equipped with a Lycoming O-235-12C engine and a Sensenich 72CKS6-0-52 propeller. The aircraft had a current annual inspection performed on November 12, 2019, and was within weight and balance limits at the time of the accident.
Pilot Information
The 26-year-old pilot held a private pilot license with a single-engine land rating. He had a total of 104 hours of flight experience, with 61 hours on the Cessna A152. His Class C2 medical certificate was valid with a requirement for corrective lenses.
Meteorological Conditions
At the time of the accident, the wind at the aerodrome was reported as 210 degrees at 7 knots. The METAR for El Tepual Airport, 15 km away, indicated wind from the southwest at 10 knots, visibility exceeding 10 km, scattered clouds at 2,000 feet, and temperature around 17°C.
Investigation Findings
Examination of the runway surface revealed no tire marks from the point of touchdown (134 meters from the threshold) to the exit point. Ground scars and vegetation disturbance showed the aircraft's leftward path after leaving the runway. The nose landing gear sustained damage to directional control rods, vibration dampener, and support structure. The right wingtip fairing was fractured with vegetation residue, and the propeller blades showed backward bending and leading-edge damage. No anomalies were found in flight controls, braking system, or engine controls. Maintenance records showed compliance with the manufacturer's schedule.
A video recording from the cockpit showed the main landing gear touching down on the runway centerline, followed by a progressive left deviation leading to the runway excursion. The aircraft's normal landing checklist was available in the cockpit, but no specific causal factor was identified in the report.