CAAGUAZÚ, PARAGUAY – A small Cessna 185 aircraft made an emergency landing and overturned in a sugarcane field in the Dr. Juan Manuel Frutos (formerly Pastoreo) area of Caaguazú, Paraguay, last Saturday. Despite the apparent engine failure that led to the incident, all five individuals on board were safely rescued with no major injuries.
Emergency Landing in Sugarcane Field After Departing Asunción
The Cessna aircraft had departed from Asunción last Saturday and was en route to Aeroclub Altona, a Mennonite private airfield in Caaguazú. Five individuals, including the pilot, were on board. It is understood that the aircraft attempted a sudden emergency landing due to a mechanical failure just before touchdown.
The aircraft attempted an emergency landing on an unpaved road near the Neualco SA alcohol factory in the Juan Manuel Frutos area around 3:00 PM. This location was approximately 15 km from Aeroclub Altona. Although the pilot attempted to land on the road, the tall sugarcane fields on both sides obstructed the landing, causing the aircraft to overturn upon contact with the ground. Photographs released shortly after the incident show the aircraft overturned and damaged, indicating the severity of the crash.
Renowned Rally Driver's Father Piloted, All Occupants Self-Evacuated
The crashed aircraft was being piloted by Diego Hugo Domínguez Stroessner, father of the famous rally driver Diego Domínguez and also a known racing driver himself. The other confirmed occupants were Manuel Postigo, Héctor Núñez, Fernando Viola, and Tiago Grillón. All occupants self-evacuated from the aircraft immediately after the crash and were rescued unharmed without external assistance.
The aircraft was recovered from the sugarcane field on Sunday, the day after the incident, and the damaged fuselage has been transported for further investigation.
Loss of Engine Power Identified as Cause, Detailed Investigation Underway
The National Civil Aviation Directorate of Paraguay (Dinac) stated that the incident occurred during an attempted emergency landing due to a loss of engine power. The pilot reportedly attempted an emergency landing in the powerless situation, but the surrounding tall sugarcane fields affected maneuverability, causing the aircraft to overturn upon impact with the ground.
Currently, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Center (Cipaa) is conducting an extensive investigation to determine the exact cause of the accident. It is expected that a thorough analysis of the specific cause of engine failure and all circumstances surrounding the emergency landing will be conducted to establish measures to prevent similar incidents in the future. This incident will be noted as a case where the pilot's skilled handling and the occupants' calm actions prevented major casualties despite a sudden engine failure.
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