What happened
On August 17, 2024, at 11:45 UTC, a private Luscombe aircraft, registration LV-FTI, was conducting a general aviation ferry flight from El Trébol to Rafaela. While operating under visual flight rules (VFR), the pilot encountered a significant reduction in visibility. Because the conditions no longer permitted safe visual navigation, the pilot executed an emergency landing on National Route 34, near kilometer 207 in the vicinity of Susana, Santa Fe.
The aircraft landed on the highway, and both the pilot and the passenger were able to exit the aircraft without any injuries. There were no injuries reported for either occupant, and the aircraft sustained no damage during the maneuver.
The investigation
The preliminary investigation focused on the flight conditions and the decision-making process leading to the landing. The JST established that the flight was being conducted in the cruise phase of a transit operation. The investigation confirmed that the primary driver for the landing was the inability to maintain the required visual separation from terrain and obstacles due to changing meteorological conditions.