Preliminary Report: Piper PA-32R-301 Ground Incident at Aeródromo Gamboa

Incident Overview and Location On 22 February 2025, a Piper PA-32R-301 aircraft was involved in a ground incident at Aeródromo Gamboa (ICAO designator SCST), located in the city of Castro, Los Lagos Region, Chile. The event occurred at 19:40 local time (22:40 UTC). The aircraft was operated by a private pilot and carried five passengers, for a total of six occupants. The flight was part of a local event associated with an air festival. ## Sequence of Events While taxiing on the east side of the runway toward threshold 34, the aircraft encountered a stone in its path approximately 280 meters before the runway threshold. The nose landing gear struck the stone, which caused the nose gear to retract. The aircraft then tilted forward, resulting in contact between the propeller and the lower front section of the aircraft with the ground. The aircraft came to a stop at the location. ## Occupants and Aircraft Condition All six occupants, including the pilot and five passengers, were uninjured and evacuated the aircraft under their own power. The aircraft sustained damage to the nose landing gear and the propeller. The landing gear control lever in the cockpit was found in the down position. ## Site and Meteorological Conditions The incident site was on the east side of the runway, facing south, approximately 280 meters north of threshold 34. The stone that caused the incident was found beneath the aircraft. Visibility at the time of the incident was unlimited. ## Investigation Status The investigation is ongoing, with analysis of the available information to determine the cause of the incident and to develop safety recommendations.