What happened
On January 25, 2026, at approximately 12:52 UTC, a Cessna A188B, registration HI 963, was conducting agricultural spraying operations in the Hatillo Palma area of the Monte Cristi province, Dominican Republic. The aircraft, operated by Fumigaciones Aéreas Del Caribe, S.R.L., had previously departed from the Aeródromo de Piloto.
While performing spraying maneuvers, the aircraft's engine experienced a total loss of power. Due to the low altitude at which the aircraft was operating, the pilot was unable to maintain flight and executed an emergency landing into a banana plantation. The impact with the vegetation and the uneven terrain caused significant damage to the airframe. The pilot was able to evacuate the cockpit independently and sustained minor injuries.
The investigation
The CIAA investigation team arrived at the scene at approximately 11:00 local time to evaluate operational, human performance, airworthiness, and meteorological factors. Initial inspections of the aircraft revealed severe structural damage to the fuselage and deformations to the wings caused by the impact with the banana plants. Additionally, the propeller assembly and landing gear sustained damage due to contact with the irregular ground.
Regarding the powerplant, investigators found that the engine was internally seized. To identify the underlying cause, the engine has been placed in custody and is scheduled for a supervised teardown at an authorized maintenance facility.