Flight History
On 27 June 2021, at 08:00 local time, a Cessna C-152, registration OB-2171, operated by the Civil Aviation Instruction Center type 3 (CIAC3) of the Peruvian School of Civil Aviation (ESPAC), departed from Runway 22 of Captain FAP Renán Elías Olivera Airport in Pisco (SPSO) for a training flight. The aircraft was under the control of the student pilot, with a pilot instructor supervising. The flight was part of the Private Pilot training program, Lesson L-6 of Phase I (preparation for solo flight).
After approximately one hour of flight, the aircraft returned to SPSO to perform touch-and-go landings. Following a successful first touch-and-go, the crew began a new circuit. While on the downwind leg for a second touch-and-go at 1,000 feet and 1,700 RPM, the student configured the aircraft for approach. The pilot instructor noted that the altitude was decreasing below the desired glidepath.
Engine Failure
On the base leg, the student lowered flaps to 20° and increased power, but the engine did not respond. Both crew members felt a loss of power, which they reported to the approach controller. At 700 feet, the pilot instructor took control and repeated the power increase, again without success. As the aircraft continued to descend rapidly, the instructor decided to turn directly toward the runway, but reported to the tower that they would not make it and would perform an emergency landing.
Emergency Landing
The pilot instructor maintained a glide speed of 60 KIAS toward the runway threshold. Engine RPM had dropped to 400-500. The instructor selected an area near the airport, briefed the student, and executed an emergency landing on uneven vegetated terrain. The nose landing gear became trapped and fractured, causing the aircraft to nose over and come to rest inverted on adjacent dirt ground.
Damage and Injuries
The aircraft sustained substantial damage. Both occupants suffered minor injuries.
Probable Cause
The investigation established that the probable cause was a loss of engine power due to carburetor ice formation, resulting from the failure to apply carburetor heat during the final approach at SPSO. This forced the pilot instructor to perform an emergency landing in an irregular area.