Incident Overview
Minutes after departing La Plata Airport, the pilot of a single-engine aircraft informed air traffic control of a failure of the left engine and opted to return for an emergency landing. Runway lights were activated as the aircraft approached, but the pilot subsequently lost control. The aircraft crashed in a field located 4 kilometers from the threshold of runway 02.
Casualties
The accident resulted in the deaths of eight occupants and serious injuries to one passenger. The pilot, Néstor Benito Ibañez, was among those killed. The deceased passengers were identified as Nelly Chamaun, Juan Simón, Mr. Fondares, Rolando Jesús Ruiz, Milagros Ruiz, Lourdes Ruiz, Ignacio Ruiz, and Walter Córdoba.
Investigation Findings
The official investigation determined the probable cause of the accident to be an engine failure for unknown reasons.