What happened
On December 6, 2025, a Piper PA-32RT-300, registration YV1560, departed from La Chinita International Airport in Maracaibo, Venezuela, for a local flight under Visual Flight Rules (VFR). The aircraft was operated by a single pilot. After performing a takeoff and a circuit with the landing gear extended, the pilot requested an ascent to flight level 040 to proceed toward the CANAL position.
At 20:25 UTC, the pilot notified Air Traffic Control (ATC) of a loss of engine power. The pilot informed the controller that the power loss would prevent the aircraft from returning to the station and indicated that an emergency landing spot was visible across the lake. This was the final communication received from the aircraft. At 2 and 27 UTC, the last known position of the aircraft was recorded at 100 feet on radial 039, approximately 15.5 nautical miles from Maracaibo. Following several unanswered calls from ATC, emergency protocols were activated. The aircraft subsequently sank into the lake. The pilot managed to swim to the shore approximately 15.67 NM from La Chinita International Airport and was found to be uninjured.
The investigation
The investigation examined the aircraft's maintenance history, the pilot's credentials, and the operational conditions leading to the accident. The Piper PA-32RT-300 was found to have a valid airworthiness certificate and had undergone maintenance as recently as November 17, 2025. Records indicated that the aircraft had been stationary for nearly six months prior to this flight, having last flown on July 1, 2025.
The investigation also reviewed fuel logs, confirming sufficient fuel was available for the planned flight. Authorities coordinated with the aircraft owner to attempt a recovery of the wreckage for further technical examination; however, the recovery was deemed unfeasible. Consequently, the exact causal factor could not be definitively determined through physical inspection of the engine or airframe.
Findings
- The aircraft had been inactive for several months, which may have contributed to mechanical issues related to fluid or seal degradation.
- Potential contributing factors included possible water accumulation in the fuel tanks, degradation or hardening of fuel system seals/diaphragms affecting fuel flow, or the mobilization of sediment/debris within the fuel lines due to recent engine runs.
- The pilot was found to have valid medical and pilot certifications, with a recent competency verification for the specific aircraft type.