What happened
On March 4, 2021, a Cessna A-188-B, registration LV-BHV, was conducting agricultural spraying operations near La Rabia, Buenos Aires. The aircraft had departed from its base at the Norberto de la Riestra aerodrome to treat crops. After completing an initial spray run, the pilot performed a reconnaissance flight over a second plot of land. During a subsequent spraying pass, the aircraft descended to a low altitude to navigate a section of the field.
While the pilot was performing a descent maneuver, a pair of eyeglasses fell from a makeshift storage container located on the right side of the cockpit. The pilot momentarily diverted his gaze downward to locate the glasses, resulting in a loss of visual reference with the terrain. Upon looking back forward, the aircraft was at an extremely low altitude, and the wings and main landing gear began to strike the sorghum crop. The friction from the crops caused a progressive loss of airspeed. Despite attempts to apply power and climb, the sorghum stalks became entangled in the landing gear, leading to a propeller strike and a ground impact that caused the aircraft to spin 180 degrees. The impact resulted in the separation of the right main wheel and significant fuselage damage, though the pilot evacuated the wreckage safely.
The investigation
The investigation examined the wreckage, field evidence, and pilot testimony. Investigators identified a non-aviation, homemade storage container—constructed from a modified plastic jug—installed in the cockpit. The investigation also noted that the aircraft's GPS unit lacked an external memory card, which prevented the recovery of automated flight path data.
Findings
- The pilot experienced a temporary loss of visual acquisition of the terrain during a low-altitude maneuver.
- The main landing gear made contact with the sorghum crop, leading to the loss of control.
- The cockpit contained an unauthorized, non-aeronautical storage component that contributed to the distraction.
- The absence of flight data recording capabilities due to a missing memory card limited the availability of technical flight parameters.