Flight and Emergency
On 3 January 2025, a Cessna 172L, registration YS-153-PE, operated by Flight Training, departed Ilopango Airport at 8:00 AM for a private flight with three occupants (pilot and two passengers). The planned route included overflying San Miguel and the coast of El Salvador before returning. While cruising at approximately 4,500 feet near Puerto Barillas, the pilot observed a slight increase in engine oil temperature. He contacted maintenance and decided to return to Ilopango. Approximately 20 minutes into the flight, over Ilopango Lake, the oil temperature rose significantly and the engine stopped. The pilot declared an emergency with Ilopango Tower and executed an emergency landing in an unprepared field in Changallo, in the municipality of Ilopango.
Injuries and Damage
All three occupants sustained minor injuries: one crew member and two passengers. The aircraft sustained substantial damage. The fuselage showed structural damage and deformations; the wings and tail were damaged from impact. The nose gear fractured, the main gear bent, and one wing support fractured. The engine exhibited a fracture near the last cylinder, significant oil spillage, and internal cowling damage from hot oil. The propeller sustained minor bending, consistent with ground contact. The emergency landing site was a rural area with soft, plowed ground. The nose wheel sank and collapsed during the landing roll, causing the aircraft to nose over and come to rest inverted.
Investigation Findings
The investigation noted that the pilot held a valid commercial pilot license with ratings for single-engine land, multi-engine land, instruments, and instructor. His total flight time was 685 hours, with 80 hours in Cessna 152 and 172 models. The aircraft, a 1972 Cessna 172L (serial number 17260547), had a valid airworthiness certificate last reviewed in June 2023. The most recent maintenance was on 14 December 2024, though work orders lacked signatures. The Lycoming O-320-E2D engine had undergone its last overhaul on 5 November 2019 and had accumulated 729 hours since. Weather conditions at the time of the accident were favorable. Communications with Ilopango Tower on 118.300 MHz were normal. The aircraft was not equipped with flight recorders, as not required. No damage to third parties was reported.