Tarija plane crash: Engine failure suspected in training flight accident

A training aircraft crashed near the Capitán Oriel Lea Plaza Airport in Tarija, Bolivia, on Wednesday morning. The aircraft, a Cessna 172K with registration CP-2646 belonging to a flight school, was performing a navigation training flight toward Villa Montes when the incident occurred.

Preliminary reports from the Dirección General de Aeronáutica Civil (DGAC) suggest a probable engine failure triggered the accident. The crew attempted to return to the airport following the malfunction but ultimately impacted the ground in an area near the terminal.

The three occupants—an instructor, a student, and a third individual—were evacuated with minor injuries. They received emergency assistance and were transported to the Hospital Regional San Juan de Dios. The Accident and Incident Prevention Unit (AIG) is conducting a specialized investigation to determine the definitive causes of the crash.