What happened
On July 22, 2025, at approximately 13:35 UTC, a Rand Robinson KR2, registration LV-X408, was involved in a runway excursion at Batán Aerodrome in the Buenos Aires province of Argentina. The flight was being conducted as a non-commercial instructional check, specifically for the purpose of adapting to the experimental aircraft.
During the takeoff phase on the grass runway, the aircraft failed to achieve sufficient lift. As a result, the aircraft veered off the runway surface and overturned on its side. Despite the substantial damage sustained by the aircraft, there were no injuries to the pilot-in-command or the student on board.
The investigation
The Argentine Transportation Safety Board (JST) initiated an investigation into the event. The preliminary findings established that the aircraft was powered by a Subaru EJ-22 engine and was operating under visual meteorological conditions with calm winds. The investigation focused on the aircraft's performance during the takeoff roll and the circumstances surrounding the experimental flight adaptation.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was that the aircraft failed to achieve the necessary lift required for takeoff.
- The aircraft experienced a runway excursion and subsequently overturned on the side of the runway.