What happened
On May 25, 2019, at approximately 14:20 local time, a Pipistrel Virus-SW, registered as LV-S036, was involved in a fatal accident in a rural area of Río Segundo, Córdoba. The aircraft was conducting a non-commercial recreational flight, having departed from Coronel Olmedo Aerodrome with the intention of landing at a different field. During the landing phase of the flight, the aircraft experienced an abnormal contact with the runway surface. The impact resulted in the death of the pilot and caused significant damage to the aircraft.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the circumstances surrounding the landing maneuver and the physical state of the aircraft at the time of the incident. Investigators examined the flight path from Coronel Olmedo Aerodrome to the intended destination and analyzed the contact between the aircraft and the ground. Meteorological conditions at the time of the accident were reported as Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC).
Findings
- The primary factor in the accident was an abnormal contact with the runway during the landing phase.
- The aircraft sustained substantial damage as a result of the impact.
- The operation was classified as non-commercial recreational flying.