What happened
On March 4, 2018, at approximately 10:15 LT, a Cessna A188B, registration CP-2612, was performing agricultural spraying operations near the Rio Victoria airstrip in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. The aircraft was being operated by 1 Agropecuaria Sogima for sorghum seeding and pest control.
The pilot had previously reduced the flight load from 500 kg to 400 kg of seed and decreased the fuel load due to rising temperatures and increasing north winds. After taking off toward the north, the pilot initiated a 45-degree left turn. During this maneuver, the aircraft entered a tailwind component, causing the pilot to experience a loss of effective climb performance. Despite increasing engine power, the aircraft failed to maintain positive climb and suffered a loss of lift. The aircraft subsequently struck the treetops, leaving the pilot unable to execute emergency procedures to jettison the load before impact.
The investigation
The Bolivian DGAC-AIG investigation examined the wreckage at the site, which included significant damage to the Continental 10-550-D engine and the Hartzell propeller assembly. The investigation reviewed the pilot's credentials, noting a valid commercial pilot license and medical certificate. Maintenance records indicated that the aircraft's 100-hour inspections and airworthiness directives were being performed by an authorized maintenance organization, though some logbook entries for the engine and propeller were noted as outdated.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was a loss of lift during flight.
- Contributing factors included inadequate weight and balance management regarding cargo and fuel control.
- Inadequate monitoring of meteorological conditions during the operation also contributed to the event.