Piper PA18 accident near Barbones, Ecuador, Ec, September 25, 2009
On September 25, 2009 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Piper PA18, registered HCAHD, was destroyed in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Barbones, Ecuador (Pista Barbones airport). It was a personal flight under non-U.S. private rules. 2 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
- September 25, 2009 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Barbones, Ecuador, Ecuador · Pista Barbones · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA18 150 · all PA18s on the register
- Registration
- HCAHD · no longer on the register · serial 18-7849
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · non-U.S. private rules
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On September 25, 2009, about 1330 central standard time, a Piper PA-18-150, Ecuadorian registration HC-AHD, registered to and operated by FumiPalma S.A., crashed following a loss of engine power, while on an approach for landing at the Pista Bardones, El Oro, Ecuador. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The pilot and passenger were killed and the airplane was destroyed by a post-crash fire. The flight originated from the same airstrip about 10 minutes prior to the accident. According to information obtained from the Ecuadorian Subdireccion de Aviacion Civil, the pilot completed several touch-and-go landings and made a stop for a break before the accident flight. After the break, the pilot took onboard a passenger for a local pleasure fight. After a duration of 10 minutes, the airplane was observed approaching for a landing, at which time the engine stopped producing power and the airplane impacted the terrain, 1,970 feet short of the intended airstrip. A fire ensued immediately following the impact. This investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Government of Ecuador. Any further information can be obtained from: Direccion General de Aviacion Civil Departamento de Seguridad de Vuelo Buenos Aires 149 Y 10 de Agusto Casilla 2077 Quito, Republica del Ecuador Fax; 593-2- 223-8352 This information is for informational purposes only and contains information released by, or obtained for, the government of Ecuador.
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
- Loss of engine power (total) during approach (VFR pattern final)
- Loss of control in flight during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: frt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 600 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, August 3, 2009; 4 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Barbones at 1:20 pm
- Destination: Barbones
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.76 inHg
- Observation at 6:00 pm from SEGU
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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.