What happened
On March 4, 2023, at approximately 22:30 UTC, a Pitts S1, registration LV-X768, crashed near the Trenque Lauquen aerodrome in Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. The aircraft had departed from the local glider club for a recreational flight under visual meteorological conditions. Approximately 30 minutes into the flight, while the pilot was performing an aerobatic maneuver, the aircraft entered an unrecoverable state and struck the ground. The impact resulted in the destruction of the aircraft and the death of the pilot.
The investigation
The Argentine Transportation Safety Board (JST) examined the wreckage, the pilot's medical history, and the aircraft's maintenance records. The investigation focused on the sequence of events during the aerobatic maneuver, specifically whether the aircraft was executing a spin or attempting to recover from an inverted spin.
Investigators also reviewed the pilot's certification and medical status. While the pilot held a valid commercial license, the investigation found that the pilot was undergoing mental health treatment and taking medication that is contraindicated for flight operations. Furthermore, the investigation noted that the pilot lacked a specific aerobatic rating and that the aircraft's flight logs and maintenance records were incomplete, making it difficult to verify the aircraft's recent operational history or weight and balance status.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the loss of control during an aerobatic maneuver.
- There is a high probability that the pilot experienced sudden incapacitation during the flight.
- The pilot was using medication during the flight that is prohibited for aeronautical personnel.
- The pilot lacked the specific aerobatic flight rating required for such maneuvers.
- There was a lack of standardized instructional guidance or training materials for aerobatic maneuvers within the existing regulatory framework.