What happened
On June 11, 2023, at approximately 20:30 UTC, a Piper PA-A-28-200, registration LV-LMG, was performing a recreational flight departing from General Viamonte Aerodrome in Los Toldos, Argentina. During the landing phase of the flight, the aircraft experienced an abnormal contact with the runway. Following the initial impact, the aircraft traveled 150 meters along runway 23 before coming to a complete stop. The impact caused significant damage to the airframe and the propeller, with the propeller striking the ground and causing the engine to stop abruptly. There were no fatalities or injuries to the pilot or the passenger.
The investigation
The investigation conducted by the JST focused on the technical state of the aircraft and the pilot's actions during the approach. Investigators examined the landing gear system by placing the aircraft on hydraulic jacks and applying electrical power. These tests confirmed that the landing gear deployment and retraction mechanisms, as well as the emergency system, were functioning correctly. Furthermore, the three green indicator lights on the instrument panel were found to be working as designed, displaying the correct status when the gear was down and locked.
Crucially, the investigation found that a required checklist for this specific aircraft model was not available in the cockpit. The pilot stated that during the final approach, they noticed the three green lights were not illuminated and assumed the indicator system was malfunctioning, leading to the decision to continue the landing. The investigation also noted that the delay in notifying the JST—five days after the event—hindered the initial collection of evidence and site-specific data.
Findings
- The landing gear system and its visual indicators were fully functional and showed no signs of mechanical failure.
- The pilot did not perform the necessary landing checklists because the required checklist was not on board the aircraft.
- The pilot's perception of a system failure was based on the absence of green lights, which were actually functioning correctly.
- The propeller strike caused significant damage to the engine, preventing the testing of the landing gear's audible alarm.
- The notification of the accident to the JST was delayed, affecting the timely gathering of evidence.