What happened
On January 27, 2024, at 12:45 UTC, a Cessna 152L, registration LV-BYZ, was conducting a general aviation pleasure flight. The aircraft was operating in the vicinity of Capitán Sarmiento, Buenos Aires, performing a circuit that originated and was intended to terminate at the Capitán Sarmiento aerodrome (CTS).
While the aircraft was in the approach phase of flight, the engine experienced a loss of power. Although the engine did not cease running entirely, the reduction in performance prompted the pilot to execute an emergency landing in a rural field located near the runway. There were no injuries reported for the two occupants on board, and no visible damage to the aircraft was noted following the landing.
The investigation
The preliminary investigation focused on the circumstances surrounding the engine's power loss during the approach. Investigators examined the flight path and the mechanical state of the Cessna 152L to determine why the power output decreased during the critical phase of flight. The investigation confirmed that the aircraft was operating under Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC) at the time of the incident.