What happened
On June 22, 2010, a Cessna 206F was conducting a cargo flight from Shell (Río Amazonas) to Lorocachi in the Pastaza province of Ecuador. During the flight, the pilot experienced a momentary loss of engine power. While the engine issue did not appear to be permanent, the pilot decided to perform an emergency landing at Pavacachi.
In an attempt to reach runway 07, the pilot executed a sharp turn that exceeded the aircraft's operational limits. The aircraft struck trees near the runway threshold, causing the nose gear to fracture and the wings to break apart upon impact with the terrain. The aircraft came to rest in a depression 20 meters below the runway level. The pilot survived the crash with a minor head injury.
The investigation
The investigation examined the aircraft's maintenance records, engine performance, and the flight's communication logs. Investigators found that the Continental engine had no evidence of mechanical failure following the event, suggesting the power loss was transient.
The board also reviewed the weight and balance calculations, noting significant discrepancies between the pilot's reported fuel load, the fueler's records, and the dispatcher's documentation. Furthermore, investigators analyzed the air traffic control communications, finding that the controller had misinterpreted an emergency message from a preceding aircraft as a routine flight cancellation, which delayed the recognition of the accident.
Findings
- The primary cause was loss of control at low altitude due to an inadvertent stall caused by an aggressive maneuvering technique that exceeded the aircraft's operational limits regarding bank angle and airspeed.
- Inconsistent coordination between the pilot, fueler, and dispatcher led to discrepancies in recorded fuel weights and takeoff weights.
- The aircraft was operating with a takeoff weight slightly exceeding its maximum allowable limit of 1,633.39 kg.
- Air traffic controllers failed to initiate emergency procedures because they misperceived an emergency transmission from another aircraft as a standard flight plan change.
- There were significant communication gaps in the region, making it difficult for air traffic control to track the aircraft's position or receive timely distress calls.