Incident Overview
On 24 May 2025, a Cessna 172N aircraft, registration TG-MSA, departed from La Aurora Airport on a training flight destined for Retalhuleu Airfield in Retalhuleu Department, Guatemala. The flight was conducted under a visual flight plan and was intended for instructional purposes. Aboard were one pilot instructor and one student pilot.
Sequence of Events
Upon arrival at Retalhuleu, the crew requested clearance from the control tower to perform touch-and-go landings on runway 22. During the third touch-and-go, the student pilot reported that the braking system was not responding properly and that the aircraft was not decelerating normally. As the aircraft approached the end of the runway, the instructor pilot decided to execute a right turn, exiting the runway at low speed to avoid impacting the perimeter fence. The aircraft came to a stop among bushes in front of the taxiway.
Aircraft Inspection
A post-incident inspection revealed no visible structural damage to the fuselage, engine, or propeller. However, a hydraulic fluid leak was observed on the lower fuselage. The incident was classified as a malfunction, defect, or other occurrence under regulation RAC 21.003.
Probable Cause
According to the investigation report, the aircraft departed the runway at low speed due to a failure of the landing gear brake system ("malfunction"), characterized by inadequate hydraulic pressure or a partial loss of efficiency. This was attributed to a hydraulic fluid leak caused by excessive wear, damage, or malfunction of internal components, which compromised the aircraft's stopping capability during landing.