What happened
On March 3, 2019, a Tecnam P-2002 Sierra, registration LV-S043, departed from the La Cumbre aerodrome for a local pleasure flight. Approximately five minutes into the flight, while operating in visual meteorological conditions during the cruise phase, the pilot experienced a loss of control. The aircraft entered a left bank of approximately 30 degrees, which subsequently increased to a 90-degree bank, causing a rapid loss of altitude. The aircraft impacted a slope in the Sierras Chicas within the Punilla Valley at an altitude of 1,140 meters above sea level.
The impact caused the aircraft to catch fire and explode, resulting in its total destruction, though the engine, nose gear, and two Garmin multifunction displays remained intact. Both occupants managed to egress the wreckage on their own. The pilot sustained a fractured leg due to the impact and cabin deformation, and both the pilot and passenger suffered burns.
The investigation
Investigators utilized data recovered from the two Garmin multifunction displays, which provided flight parameters, engine performance, and altitude information. This digital evidence was corroborated by video footage captured by a bystander located approximately 50 meters from the site. The footage and flight data confirmed that the aircraft was flying at a very low altitude, with a high nose attitude, indicating a slow flight condition.
The investigation also examined the meteorological conditions, noting an 8-knot wind from the east. The pilot admitted during interviews that previous flights had been conducted under similar characteristics and that the regulatory minimum safety altitudes for flying over populated and mountainous areas had not been accounted for during flight planning.
Findings
- The pilot lost control of the aircraft due to flying at low speeds and low altitudes.
- The aircraft operated below the established safety altitude of 1,000 feet.
- The flight path failed to maintain the minimum lateral separation from the mountain slope required by Argentine Civil Aviation Regulations (RAAC).
- Wind conditions may have acted as a contributing factor, as the terrain and wind direction can create turbulence or downdrafts that are difficult to recover from at low altitudes.