Factual Information
On 9 October 2017, a Piper PA-25-260 aircraft, registration CX-BXC-R, operated by Aeroagrícola Noreste Ltda., was conducting an agricultural herbicide application on a rice crop. The accident occurred near Paso Pereira, at the Estancia “La Rinconada” in the Department of Cerro Largo, Uruguay, at approximately 15:30 local time.
Sequence of Events
The pilot departed at approximately 11:50 from the company’s airstrip near Melo for a 50-minute transit to an emergency airstrip located 3 km southeast of the application area. The aircraft was loaded with 110 liters of fuel and 400 liters of fungicide.
After a reconnaissance pass, the pilot began application runs on a southeast-to-northwest heading, with wind from the left at 90 degrees. According to GPS data, the passes were conducted at an average height of 5 meters and a speed of 135 km/h.
On the third flight, after the second application pass, while climbing out at an altitude of approximately 15 to 20 meters, the pilot perceived a strike on the forward fuselage accompanied by a sudden reduction in engine power. He immediately leveled the wings, attempted to jettison the load, and initiated an emergency landing procedure toward a native forest.
The aircraft made contact with treetops on a heading of 070°, touching down gently before stalling and falling through the branches. It came to rest in a vertical position, supported by tree branches.
The pilot, who was wearing a helmet and mask, was uninjured and evacuated the aircraft unaided. He attempted to signal with a fire but was unsuccessful due to wind and dense vegetation, and his mobile phone had no signal.
When the support crew noticed the aircraft had not returned, they alerted the company, which began search procedures. The wreckage was located from the air around 17:00, and the pilot was rescued at approximately 18:30 by a Uruguayan Air Force helicopter and transported to a medical facility.
Damage and Injuries
The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, wings, landing gear, engine, and propeller. No fire occurred. The pilot reported no injuries, and no other persons were involved.