Cessna 172 RG accident near Santa Cruz, Bo, May 11, 2009
On May 11, 2009 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172 RG, registered CP2492, was destroyed in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Santa Cruz. It was a personal flight under non-U.S. private rules. 5 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 11, 2009 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Santa Cruz, Bolivia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 5 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 RG · all 172 RGs on the register
- Registration
- CP2492 · no longer on the register · serial 172RG0773
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · non-U.S. private rules
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On May 11, 2008, about 1930 Atlantic standard time, a Cessna 172 RG, Bolivian registration CP-2492, , registered to and operated by a private individual, impacted a tree with its left’s wing and then the ground, where a fire ensued. The accident sight was about 1,150 meters from an unlit runway of “Agropecuaria Arco Iris” airstrip, north of Montero, Santa Cruz, Bolivia. Night time visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight. The pilot and the four passengers received fatal injuries; the airplane was destroyed. The flight originated from El Tromprillo Airport, Santa Cruz, Bolivia, at about 1808. This investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Government of Bolivia. Any further information can be obtained from: Bolivia DGAC-AIG Palacio De Comunicaciones Av. Mcal. Santa Cruz No. 1278 4to PISO La Paz, Bolivia This report is for informational purposes only, and contains information released by the Government of the Bolivia.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
Pilot
No details recorded.
The aircraft
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: SLET Santa Cruz at 10:08 pm
- Destination: Santa Cruz
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 350° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,000 ft; a few clouds at 1,700 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.76 inHg
- Observation at 11:00 pm from SLVR
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.