What happened
On December 22, 2024, at approximately 10:00 UTC, a Piper PA-25-235, registration LV-CTM, was engaged in specialized agricultural spraying operations in a rural area near Villa de Pocho, Córdoba. The aircraft was performing maneuvers at low altitude following the completion of a spraying run. During this phase of flight, the left wing of the aircraft made contact with the terrain, leading to an impact with the ground. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, though the pilot escaped the wreckage without any injuries.
The investigation
The Argentine Transportation Safety Board (JST) conducted an inspection of the wreckage to identify the mechanical or operational factors contributing to the impact. During the examination of the aircraft, investigators discovered a section of a control cable from the right wing that had been visibly severed. This component was removed and sent to a laboratory for technical-metallurgical analysis. The objective of this testing is to determine whether the break was caused by an external impact, material fatigue, a pre-existing failure, or another mechanism.
Findings
- The aircraft was operating in visual meteorological conditions (VMC) with high visibility and calm winds.
- The impact occurred during low-altitude maneuvering characteristic of aerial application.
- A severed control cable on the right wing was identified as a critical element under investigation.