Cessna 172 accident near Pastaza, Ec, August 26, 2008
On August 26, 2008 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered HCBKY, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pastaza. It was a business flight under non-U.S. private rules. 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
On August 26, 2008, about 1100 local time, a Cessna 172, Ecuadorian registration HC-BKY, registered to an operated by Wings of Hope Incorporated, as a medical transport flight, crashed following a loss of engine power, while in cruise flight to Rio Amazonas Airport, Pastaza, Ecuador. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantial damage. The private-rated pilot and passenger received serious injuries. According to information obtained from the Ecuadorian Subdireccion de Aviacion Civil, the pilot reported total loss of engine power, while in cruise flight. He conducted an emergency landing, and crashed into trees. This investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Government of Ecuador. Any further information can be obtained from: Direccion General de Aviacion Civil Buenos Aires 149 Y 10 de Agusto P.O. Box 2077 Quito, Republica del Ecuador Phone: 593-2-223-8981 Fax; 593-2- 223-8352 This information is for informational purposes only, and contains information released by, or obtained for the Government of Ecuador.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 26, 2008 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Pastaza, Ecuador
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- HCBKY · no longer on the register · serial R1720560
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · non-U.S. private rules
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
On August 26, 2008, about 1100 local time, a Cessna 172, Ecuadorian registration HC-BKY and operated as a medical transport flight, crashed following a loss of engine power while in cruise flight to Rio Amazonas Airport, Pastaza, Ecuador. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantial damage. The private-rated pilot and passenger received serious injuries. According to information obtained from the Ecuadorian Subdireccion de Aviacion Civil, the pilot reported total loss of engine power, while in cruise flight. He conducted an emergency landing, and crashed into trees. This investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Government of Ecuador. Any further information can be obtained from: Direccion General de Aviacion Civil Buenos Aires 149 Y 10 de Agusto P.O. Box 2077 Quito, Republica del Ecuador Phone: 593-2-223-8981 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
Pilot
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Teledyne Continental (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: Pastaza
- Flight plan: not recorded
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.