What happened
On January 26, 2024, a Cessna 140-A, registration LV-FCV, departed from an unauthorized field at the "El Rancho" establishment in southwest Puan, Buenos Aires, for a flight intended to reach the "Servicios Aeronáutricos Pigüe" aerodrome. During the flight, the pilot deviated from the planned route to fly over the Puan Island area.
While descending from 1,400 feet to approximately 700 feet, the pilot attempted to increase engine power, but the engine failed to respond and remained at idle. The pilot subsequently performed an emergency landing within the Puan Island Natural and Cultural Reserve. During the landing, a crosswind caused the right wing to lift, leading to a loss of control. The aircraft drifted laterally, struck an embankment, and overturned.
The investigation
The investigation revealed several critical regulatory and safety breaches. The pilot was operating the aircraft without a valid pilot license. Furthermore, the aircraft's maintenance was significantly overdue; its last annual inspection had expired in December 2022. Records also showed no evidence of repairs following a previous incident in May 2022, which involved propeller damage and an engine stoppage.
Investigators faced significant challenges because the aircraft was moved from the accident site to a private property without authorization from the JST. During this unauthorized relocation, the engine was removed and various cables were cut, which prevented investigators from verifying the functionality of the power control mechanism or inspecting critical components for failure.