Incident Overview
On May 1, 2022, at 21:40 UTC, a Cessna 182P with registration CP-1123 experienced an emergency water landing in Laguna Tigre, located in the Beni department of Bolivia. The aircraft was operating under flight plan SLTR to SLSA (Santa Ana de Yacuma) when it encountered mechanical issues.
Flight Details and Sequence of Events
The aircraft departed at 21:24 UTC, climbing to 2,500 feet. Approximately 20 nautical miles from the destination aerodrome, the pilot reported that the engine began vibrating and running roughly. Due to the urgency of the situation, the pilot did not have time to declare an emergency before executing a water landing. The aircraft came to rest inverted in the water.
Occupants and Rescue
Two individuals were on board: the pilot and one passenger. Both exited the aircraft through the right-side door and climbed onto the fuselage, where they waited overnight for rescue. An Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) activated, triggering a COSPAS-SARSAT alert at 21:45 UTC. The following morning, at 10:30 UTC, a search and rescue aircraft departed from SLSA and located the downed plane approximately 500 meters from the shore at 10:43 UTC. Both occupants were found unharmed.
Aircraft Condition and Damage
The Cessna 182P, manufactured in 1974 with serial number 18263398, sustained damage to the nose gear, cabin, engine compartment, and fuselage. The aircraft was powered by a Continental O-470-R engine (serial 459815) and equipped with a McCauley 2A34C201 propeller (serial 612221). At the time of the accident, the airframe had accumulated 4,432:55 total hours.
Investigation Context
The investigation was conducted by the Dirección General Aeronáutica Civil’s Accident and Incident Investigation Unit (AIG) in accordance with ICAO standards. The final report, issued on February 28, 2023, emphasizes that its purpose is solely for accident prevention and does not assign legal liability or fault.