What happened
On March 31, 2021, at approximately 09:20 UTC, a Piper Arrow III, registration LV-MLX, departed from a prepared field at Estancia Los Pinos in the Arteaga region of Santa Fe, Argentina. The flight was intended to be an executive general aviation mission bound for Morón.
During the initial climb, at an altitude of roughly 350 feet, the aircraft encountered heavy fog that caused the pilot to lose all visual references. Shortly after losing visibility, the aircraft entered a right-hand turn and descended into the terrain. The impact resulted in the destruction of the aircraft and caused one serious injury to the pilot, while the passenger survived.
The investigation
The JST investigation focused on the transition from visual flight rules (VFR) to instrument conditions and the pilot's legal qualifications. Investigators examined the flight planning, the meteorological conditions at the time of departure, and the operational status of the aircraft's emergency equipment.
The inquiry also looked into the registration of the aircraft's Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT). It was noted that the ELT was not registered in the National Radio Beacon Registry, which complicated the search and rescue efforts. Additionally, the investigation reviewed the pilot's license, which authorized VFR operations but did not include an instrument rating.
Findings
- The pilot did not possess an instrument rating, which was necessary for the conditions encountered.
- The flight was planned in a manner that exceeded the legal privileges of the pilot's license.
- Meteorological information used during planning was insufficient to account for the local weather context.
- The aircraft transitioned from VFR to instrument conditions during the climb due to the sudden presence of fog.
- The loss of altitude and subsequent impact occurred during a right-hand turn initiated as visual references were lost.
- The use of an unregistered ELT hindered the efficiency of the rescue operation.