What happened
On March 27, 2019, at approximately 14:00 UTC, a Weatherly 620-A, registration LV-BZB, crashed into a mountainside in the La Mesilla del Cura region of San Luis, Argentina. The aircraft was engaged in a general aviation ferry flight, traveling from Laboulaye to Luján for upcoming agricultural spraying operations.
During the mission, the pilot performed a scheduled stop in Tilisarao due to poor weather conditions at the destination. After waiting for approximately two hours, the pilot resumed the flight under Visual Flight Rules (VFR). However, shortly after departure, the aircraft encountered deteriorating meteorological conditions. The flight transitioned from VFR to Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions as the aircraft entered a layer of low stratus and stratocumulus clouds. The aircraft subsequently struck a slope 80 meters below a mountain peak, resulting in the fatal destruction of the aircraft and the death of the pilot.
The investigation
The investigation conducted by the JST examined the wreckage, meteorological data, and witness testimonies. Investigators analyzed the debris and determined that the structural damage to the airframe, engine, and propeller was consistent with a high-energy impact and not due to pre-existing mechanical failures. The aircraft was found to be in an airworthy state and maintained according to manufacturer standards, though it was not certified for IFR operations.
Witness accounts indicated that the aircraft was heard performing 360-degree turns within the cloud layer prior to the impact. Furthermore, the investigation reviewed communications between the pilot and ground support. Evidence showed that the pilot had been explicitly advised by ground personnel to remain at the previous stop due to unsafe weather at the destination, but the pilot chose to proceed.
Findings
- The accident was a Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT), as evidenced by the lack of evasive maneuvers and the level attitude of the wings at the moment of impact.
- The pilot was not certified to operate under IFR conditions, and the aircraft was not equipped or certified for such operations.
- Deteriorating weather conditions served as the immediate trigger, as the aircraft entered a cloud layer that exceeded the minimum visibility requirements for VFR flight.
- Flight planning was inadequate regarding the meteorological risks present along the route and at the destination.