Cessna 140-A LV-FCV accident at Puan Island, Buenos Aires

Overview and flight details On 26 January 2024 at 15:00 UTC, a privately owned Cessna 140-A with registration LV-FCV departed from a field at the “El Rancho” property, southwest of Puan in Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. The intended destination was the declared suitable place “Servicios Aeronáuticos Pigüe.” The flight was classified as general aviation for pleasure. ## Accident sequence The pilot deviated from the direct route to overfly Puan Lake and its surroundings. After about 30 minutes of flight, the aircraft descended from approximately 1,400 feet to 700 feet. When the pilot applied power to level the flight, the engine did not respond and remained at idle. The pilot then made an emergency landing in the Puan Island Natural and Cultural Reserve. During touchdown, the aircraft lost control, struck a bank, and overturned. The aircraft sustained substantial damage and the engine stopped abruptly. ## Investigation findings The pilot did not hold an aeronautical license. The aircraft was not maintained in accordance with current regulations; its last annual inspection was on 21 December 2021, valid only until December 2022. A previous event on 28 May 2022 involved the propeller contacting the ground and an abrupt engine stop, with no recorded inspection or repair of the resulting damage. The aircraft was moved and removed from the accident site without prior authorization from the JST, and the engine was separated during transport, which hindered the investigation and prevented verification of the power-control mechanism. ## Casualties The pilot was uninjured. No passengers or other persons were involved.