What happened
On January 11, 2026, a Weatherly 620B, registration LV-AXX, was performing equipment calibration tests in preparation for aerial spraying operations. The flight was taking place over the Establecimiento El Palmar area in Palo Santo, Formosa. During the aircraft's second pass over the field, the engine suffered a complete loss of power.
The pilot attempted to restart the engine by activating the electric auxiliary fuel pump and switching the fuel selector from the left tank to the right tank. While these actions provided a brief moment of power, the engine failed to restart. To manage the emergency, the pilot deployed the emergency lever to release the agricultural load and executed a left turn to locate a landing site. The aircraft subsequently performed an emergency landing in an unprepared, cultivated field. The pilot exited the aircraft uninjured, though the aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The investigation
The Argentine Transportation Safety Board (JST) initiated an investigation into the powerplant failure. Investigators focused on the fuel delivery system, specifically examining the functionality of the fuel pumps and the distribution mechanism. The investigation is currently analyzing the possibility of a malfunction within the fuel pump system.