Piper PA-28-236 Tree Strike During Approach at Aeródromo Curacaví

Incident Overview and Location Details On April 4, 2023, at approximately 18:00 local time, a Piper Aircraft Inc. PA-28-236 experienced an aviation occurrence while on approach to runway 29 at Aeródromo Curacaví (SCCV). The aircraft, carrying a pilot and two passengers, struck the top of a tree located on private property outside the aerodrome. The impact site was situated 429 meters from the runway threshold. Despite the collision, the aircraft continued its approach and landed without further incident. All three occupants were unharmed, though the aircraft sustained structural damage to the right wing and the lower engine cowling. ## Flight Operations and Pilot Account The flight was a visual flight rules (VFR) operation planned from Aeródromo Torca in the Maule Region to Aeródromo Curacaví in the Metropolitan Region. The pilot, holding a private pilot license, was accompanied by two passengers, one of whom was also a pilot. Upon reaching the Portezuelo sector in the María Pinto commune, the pilot initiated descent to intercept a left base for runway 29. During the final approach, the pilot reported that direct sunlight impaired visibility of the terrain, causing them to focus on maintaining visual contact with the runway. The pilot felt a strike on the right wing but continued the maneuver to complete the landing. After taxiing to the apron and shutting down the engine, the pilot inspected the aircraft around 18:10 local time and discovered structural damage to the right wing along with vegetation debris. ## Aircraft Maintenance and Technical Condition The aircraft, manufactured in 1981 with serial number 28-8111092, had 2,822.71 hours of service at the time of the incident. The last annual inspection was completed on January 17, 2023, at 2,791.57 hours, with no discrepancies recorded in the flight log during the subsequent 68.86 hours of flight. The aircraft was powered by a Lycoming O-540-J3A5D engine and equipped with a Hartzell HC-F3YR-1ARF propeller, both of which had undergone annual inspections on the same date. The aircraft's airworthiness certificate was valid until January 31, 2025. Fuel samples confirmed the use of AVGAS 100LL, which was free of contaminants, solids, or water. ## Damage Assessment and Environmental Factors Exterior inspection revealed two areas of structural damage on the right wing: a fracture with deformation in the fuel tank covering and deformation with cut rivets in the leading edge covering at the wing root. The fuel tank damage resulted in a fuel spill. The lower engine cowling on the right side sustained fractures and paint damage near the air intake. Branch fragments were found on top of the engine, on the external face of the induction air filter, and on the lower fairing of the main landing gear leg. The tree at the impact site was approximately 25 meters tall and had a broken hook in its canopy. Meteorological data from 18:00 local time indicated clear skies, a temperature of 28.9°C, relative humidity of 27.6%, and winds from the south at 11 km/h with no precipitation.