What happened
On April 5, 2024, at approximately 17:50 UTC, an IAE-20 aircraft, registration LV-YSX, was conducting a general aviation pleasure flight when it experienced a total engine failure. The aircraft was in the cruise phase of its flight, traveling from DINFIA (Capitán Vicente Almandós Airport) toward SANC (Coronel Felipe Varela Airport).
Following the loss of engine power, the pilot was forced to execute an emergency landing on Route 38, specifically at kilometer 153, located between Capayán and Chumbicha in the province of Catamarca. The aircraft came to rest on the roadway.
The investigation
The preliminary investigation focused on the sequence of events leading to the engine shutdown. The flight was operating under Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC) and was part of a non-commercial, private operation. The investigation established that the engine ceased functioning while the aircraft was at cruise altitude, necessitating the immediate transition from flight to an emergency descent and landing on the ground surface of the highway.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was an engine failure during the cruise phase of flight.
- The aircraft sustained minor damage during the emergency landing on the route.
- There were no fatalities or injuries reported among the crew or any other individuals involved in the event.