What happened
On March 26, 2007, a Cessna 180 floatplane, registration OB-1628, operated by North American Float Plane Service (NAFPS), was conducting a flight in the Loreto region of Peru. After departing from the Estrecho area on the Putumayo River with three passengers, the aircraft was en route to Iquitos.
During the flight, the pilot reported an emergency, stating that the engine had failed and that the aircraft was descending. Unable to restart the engine in flight, the pilot performed a forced landing into dense forest canopy. The impact left the aircraft inverted and suspended in the trees. While all four occupants survived the impact, one passenger sustained serious injuries, specifically a multi-fragmentary fracture of the tibia.
The investigation
The CIAA investigation focused on the circumstances leading to the engine failure and the subsequent crash. Investigators were unable to reach the exact impact site via land due to the dense vegetation, which prevented a full inspection of the wreckage, though the engine and propeller were recovered.
Technical analysis of the engine was inconclusive, as the specific cause of the power loss could not be determined from the available evidence. However, the investigation examined the aircraft's maintenance records, fuel logs, and the use of improper fuel grades. The investigation also noted that the aircraft's Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) failed to trigger a signal via the COSPAS SARSAT system.
Findings
- The primary cause of the engine failure remains undetermined.
- There was a significant discrepancy regarding fuel usage: while the engine plate specified a minimum requirement of LL100 fuel, the operator's records and the pilot's statement indicated the use of 84-octane automotive gasoline.
- The aircraft's flight logs lacked a dedicated field to record the specific type of fuel used for the mission.
- The aircraft was within weight and balance limits at the time of the accident.
- Meteorological conditions were not a contributing factor to the accident.