2026 Navion NA-145 Accident in San Antonio Oeste, Argentina (LV-YYL)

Incident Overview and Location On January 4, 2026, at 10:23 UTC, a 1948 Navion NA-145 with registration LV-YYL crashed in a rural area near the AD Saint Exupery aerodrome in San Antonio Oeste, Río Negro Province, Argentina. The aircraft was operating a non-commercial, non-scheduled flight from San Antonio Oeste (SAVN/OES) to Pehuajo (SAZP/PEH). The flight lasted approximately 0.2 hours before the accident occurred during the climb phase. ## Aircraft and Engine Details The aircraft, a fixed-wing small aeroplane, had a maximum takeoff mass of 1,360 kg and a total airframe time of 2,105.7 hours. It was powered by a single Continental (Teledyne) O-470-K engine, serial number 47597-6-K, with 3,143.9 total hours. The engine was fitted with a Hartzell HC-82XF-1DB propeller, serial number T-1994. At the time of the accident, the aircraft's maintenance documentation was current and its airworthiness certificate was valid. ## Flight Narrative and Impact Approximately six minutes after takeoff, the pilot-in-command experienced a loss of power and engine stoppage during the climb. This forced an emergency landing in a rural area with tall vegetation on level terrain at an elevation of 36 feet. The aircraft impacted the ground at a speed of 60 knots with a low angle, nose level, and wings level. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the aircraft. ## Occupants and Injuries The aircraft carried three occupants, all of whom sustained serious injuries. There were no fatalities. The pilot-in-command was a 65-year-old male holding a private pilot license for aeroplanes, with 516.1 total flight hours. The emergency locator transmitter (ELT) operated effectively, and the occupants were located by sighting. Escape from the aircraft took approximately three minutes. ## Investigation and Probable Cause The accident was classified as a powerplant failure or malfunction (SCF-PP). The investigation identified two primary lines of inquiry: a possible obstruction of the aircraft's fuel system and probable fuel contamination. The investigation was conducted by the Junta de Seguridad en el Transporte (JST) using a systemic model, focusing on technical failures, human factors, and organizational elements to prevent future occurrences.