What happened
On March 30, 2024, at approximately 21:00 UTC, a Piper PA-A-38-112 (registration LV-OJS) was conducting a general aviation instruction flight when it experienced a sudden loss of power. The aircraft was performing maneuvers in the airspace near Lima, Buenos Aires, when the engine failure occurred. In response to the power loss, the crew executed an emergency landing in a rural field. The flight had departed from Zarate and was intended to return to the same location.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the circumstances surrounding the engine malfunction during the instructional flight. The aircraft, operated by a private entity, was operating under Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC) at the time of the incident. The investigation confirmed that the landing took of the aircraft took place in a rural zone, and the sequence of events led to the decision to terminate the flight via an unplanned landing in a field.
Findings
- The primary cause of the emergency was an engine failure resulting in a loss of power during the maneuvering phase of flight.
- There were no injuries reported for the two occupants on board.
- The aircraft sustained no damage during the emergency landing in the field.