Piper PA-11 LV-YPS Accident at Ensenada Aerodrome

Incident Overview and Flight Details On February 2, 2024, at 11:30 UTC, a Piper PA-11 with registration LV-YPS was involved in an accident at the Ensenada aerodrome in Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. The aircraft, owned by Aeroclub La Plata, was conducting a local training flight under visual meteorological conditions. The pilot, holding a private pilot license, had a total of 5.1 hours of flight experience, all accumulated in the same aircraft. The flight began at 11:00 UTC from the Ensenada aerodrome. ## Sequence of Events After approximately 20 minutes of flight, the pilot decided to return to the departure aerodrome. The pilot overflew the aerodrome to assess wind conditions using the windsock, which indicated a north wind of 5 to 10 knots. The pilot chose to approach runway 11, a 1,050-meter dirt runway, to practice crosswind landings. During the first approach, the aircraft became unstable during the flare phase, prompting the pilot to execute a go-around. On the second approach, the pilot reported that the aircraft “inflated” during the flare. When attempting another go-around and applying power, the pilot lost control of the aircraft. ## Impact and Damage The aircraft impacted the terrain 220 meters from the threshold of runway 11 and came to rest 5 meters from the right edge of the runway. The impact caused significant structural damage, including a broken main landing gear, damage to the wings, longerons, and cabin structure. The propeller blades fractured upon contact with the ground, causing the engine to stop abruptly. The pilot exited the aircraft unassisted and sustained no injuries. ## Investigation and Environmental Factors The investigation by the Junta de Seguridad en el Transporte (JST) confirmed that the pilot's certification and the aircraft's maintenance were in compliance with current regulations. The National Meteorological Service reported a wind from 360 degrees at 7 knots at the time of the accident. The Ensenada aerodrome features two intersecting dirt runways: runway 11-29 (1,050 meters long) and runway 01-19 (825 meters long), both 30 meters wide.