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Student Pilot Safely Lands Cessna 150 After Instructor's Mid-Air Jump in Argentina
A flight instructor jumped from a moving Cessna 150 during a training flight over Córdoba, leaving the student pilot to land the aircraft alone without incident.
The gist
A 22-year-old student pilot landed a Cessna 150 alone after his instructor jumped from the plane mid-flight in Argentina.
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A training flight over central Argentina turned harrowing on July 4 when a flight instructor unexpectedly jumped from the moving aircraft, leaving his student pilot to manage the plane alone. The incident occurred in a Cessna 150 flying over the city of Toledo in Córdoba province. The instructor, identified as 42-year-old Leandro Andrés Bertazzo, exited the aircraft mid-air, forcing the 22-year-old trainee, known as Rosario, to safely land the plane by himself.
According to accounts from Rosario, the instructor made a brief remark before leaving his seat and the cockpit. Bertazzo reportedly told the student pilot, You know what you have to do, carry on, then removed his headset, opened the aircraft door, and jumped from the plane. Despite the shock and stress of the situation, Rosario successfully landed the Cessna 150 without damage to the aircraft or injury to himself.
The act of opening a Cessna 150 door in flight and jumping out is extremely dangerous. The plane travels at approximately 124 miles (200 kilometers) per hour, making such a move comparable to opening a car door at speed. Eduardo Alvarez, director of Flying Parrot Cordoba Flying School, which operates the training program, emphasized the complexity of the human mind in making such a tragic decision mid-flight with another person onboard.
Alvarez described Bertazzo as a beautiful person with a great smile and noted that he was certified with FAA Multiengine ATP-CTP and International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) level 5 qualifications. Bertazzo had been employed full-time at Flying Parrot and had been a trained pilot since November 2018, with previous experience working in Chile, according to his LinkedIn profile.
The Cessna 150 involved is a two-seat, tricycle-gear aircraft widely used for flight training, touring, and hobby flights. Produced between 1958 and 1977, it is one of the most popular training aircraft historically, with nearly 24,000 built. The versatility of the model and its prevalence in training environments underscores the rarity and severity of an incident involving an instructor suddenly departing the aircraft mid-flight.
Following the event, Argentine prosecutors have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Bertazzo's final actions and state of mind. The Flying Parrot school reported no signs of mental health issues prior to the incident, but the investigation aims to determine any influencing factors leading to the instructor's tragic decision.
The event unfolds in the context of flight training at Colonel Olmedo Airport (ICAO code SACD), located near Coronel Olmedo in Córdoba, Argentina, where Flying Parrot operates. The abrupt loss of an instructor mid-flight is unprecedented for the school and has deeply affected the local aviation community.
Rosario's composure and ability to complete the landing highlight the seriousness and potential peril of training flights when unforeseen emergencies arise. The safe conclusion of this event avoided potential aircraft damage or further tragedy despite the dramatic circumstances.
This incident raises awareness on the importance of mental health monitoring within aviation personnel, especially flight instructors entrusted with the safety and training of novice pilots. It also stresses the capability and preparedness required of student pilots to respond effectively in unexpected emergencies while in control of the aircraft.
Frequently asked questions
- What happened during the flight training incident in Argentina?
- During a training flight over Córdoba, Argentina, the flight instructor jumped out of a moving Cessna 150, leaving the student pilot to land the aircraft alone safely.
- Who was the flight instructor and what was his background?
- The instructor was 42-year-old Leandro Andrés Bertazzo, a certified flight instructor with FAA Multiengine ATP-CTP and ICAO 5 qualifications, experienced since 2018 and previously working in Chile.
- How did the student pilot manage the situation after the instructor jumped?
- The 22-year-old student pilot, Rosario, was left alone to control the plane, and despite the shock, he successfully landed the Cessna 150 without damage or injury.
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