What happened
On April 16, 2026, at approximately 18:15 local time, an Ayres S2R600 R3S agricultural aircraft operated by a private owner was on approach for landing at an airfield in Calilegua, located in the province of Jujuy, Argentina. The flight had departed from the same location and covered a distance of 0.667 hours prior to the incident. During the landing phase, the aircraft suffered a runway excursion, departing the prepared surface and entering a cultivated field. The pilot, a 66-year-old male, survived the event and escaped from the wreckage within two minutes. He sustained minor injuries to his upper body, while no other personnel were aboard or injured on the ground. The Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) did not activate.
The investigation
The Argentine Transportation Safety Board (JST) initiated a preliminary inquiry into the substantial accident. Investigators examined the aircraft's maintenance records, noting that while the airworthiness certificate was marked as invalid in the preliminary data, the maintenance documentation was current. The engine, a Honeywell Garrett TPE331 with 14,330 total hours and 11,653 cycles, had recently undergone Direct Unrestricted Ground (DURG) work. The Hartzell propeller system also showed recent maintenance activity. Meteorological conditions at the time were Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC) during daylight hours. The terrain where the aircraft came to rest was level and flat, consisting of crops or cultivated land.
Findings
The primary causal factor identified in the preliminary phase was the runway excursion during the landing roll. Contributing factors included the specific operational context of agricultural aerial work, which often involves short-field operations and heavy loads. The aircraft's age and high cycle count on the engine were noted as part of the technical profile, though no immediate mechanical failure was confirmed in this preliminary stage. The pilot's experience level and specific type ratings were reviewed, with records indicating general airplane pilot qualifications.
Safety action
As this is a preliminary report, formal safety recommendations have not yet been issued. However, JST will continue to analyze the flight data, maintenance logs, and pilot testimony to determine if any systemic issues related to aircraft maintenance compliance or operational procedures in agricultural aviation require regulatory attention.