What happened
On December 3, 2022, at approximately 11:00 UTC, a Piper PA-A-25-235, registration LV-OGR, was engaged in an agricultural spraying mission in a rural area of Lima, Buenos Aires. The flight originated from and was intended to return to Aeródromo San Pedro.
While performing a low-altitude turn, the aircraft experienced a sudden loss of engine power. This reduction in power caused the aircraft to lose both altitude and airspeed. As the maneuver concluded, the aircraft struck a tree, underwent a 180-degree rotation, and came to a halt a short distance from the impact site. The pilot sustained one minor injury during the incident.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of events leading to the impact, specifically examining the flight phase and the mechanical performance of the engine during the turn. The inquiry established that the aircraft was operating in Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC) and was performing specialized aerial application work at the time of the accident.