Accident Overview
On March 12, 2026, at approximately 12:00 local time, an Air Tractor AT-502 agricultural aircraft, registration LV-ZZM, crashed during the takeoff phase at Estancia El Cortijo, near Villa del Totoral, Argentina. The aircraft was engaged in agricultural operations and was operated by a private owner. The sole occupant, the pilot, survived the accident and evacuated the aircraft within one minute. There were no injuries. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
Aircraft and Pilot Information
The aircraft was a single-engine Air Tractor AT-502, manufactured in 2003, with serial number 502B-0673. It was powered by a Pratt & Whitney PT6-A34AG turbine engine and equipped with a Hartzell HC-B3TN-D/T propeller. The pilot, a male, held a pilot license issued by the state of registry. He had a total of 3,470 flight hours, of which 2,060 hours were on the type. No ELT was carried.
Sequence of Events
The accident occurred during takeoff from a grass runway on a flat, cultivated field at an elevation of 1,798 feet. Weather conditions were visual meteorological conditions (VMC) with daylight, visibility of 9,999 meters, calm wind from 270 degrees at 5 knots. After departure, the aircraft made a left turn and subsequently crashed in an adjacent lot. The distance from the runway was less than 10 km.
Impact and Damage
The aircraft came to rest approximately 40 meters from the initial point of impact. Impact speed was 65 knots, with a nose-up pitch attitude and a slight bank angle (0-30 degrees). The terrain was level/flat, covered with grass and crops. The aircraft's structure was substantially damaged.
Investigation Findings
The preliminary report indicates that the maximum takeoff weight may have been exceeded. No other causal factors were stated. The investigation is ongoing.