2025 Disappearance of the Cessna 172 in Beni

On April 30, 2025, a Cessna 172M Skyhawk (registration CP-1099) disappeared while flying from Baures to Trinidad, in the department of Beni, Bolivia. The five occupants on board were rescued alive 48 hours after the accident.

## Aircraft
The aircraft involved in the accident was a Cessna 172M Skyhawk, registration CP-1099 and serial number 17263499. CP-1099 had previously been involved in an incident on April 26, 2013, when it made an emergency landing on a street in Puerto Ballivián, Trinidad, due to engine failure. This incident caused severe damage to the aircraft.

## Passengers and crew
There were five people on board the small plane: 

* Pilot: Pablo Andrés Velarde, 27 years old. 
* Passengers: Mirtha Fuentes, Roberta Velarde, an unidentified female passenger, and a five-year-old child (son of the aforementioned female passenger).

## Flight
The Cessna 172, registration CP-1099, took off on Wednesday, April 30, from Baures Airport at 12:57 p.m., bound for the city of Trinidad, Beni department. The aircraft was piloted by pilot Pablo Andrés Velarde, with four passengers on board, including a child. 

The last contact with the aircraft was on April 30, after 1:00 p.m. According to the latest reports, the aircraft landed near the town of Pedro Ignacio Muiba, 123 kilometers from Trinidad. 

The aircraft experienced malfunctions, and as a result, the pilot executed emergency maneuvers to land near the Itonomas River, near the Santa Fe and Nueva Esperanza 1 farms. Another captain alerted the population of Baures, informing them of the situation and quickly mobilizing the relevant authorities.

## Survival
The young pilot of the aircraft, Pablo Andrés Velarde, said that on the second day, they managed to grab some of one of the passengers' luggage, finding in it chivé, a cassava flour commonly consumed in several Beni towns. "We stayed with chivé", said the young pilot, who also stated that when they fell, the plane's fuel formed a circle around the aircraft, preventing animals such as lizards and snakes from approaching and attempting to attack them. 

The survivors report describes how they had to stay together, standing on a piece of the plane's fuselage that wasn't submerged in the water, holding on there for the two days it took to rescue them. Passenger Roberta Robertina Velarde recounted how they took turns keeping watch day and night, ensuring that no dangerous animals would try to attack them or approach the plane. 

Despite their shifts, none of them could sleep during the two nights they spent outdoors. The survivors say they decided not to move, hoping to be seen by rescue teams. Despite the passing of time, they did not falter and held on atop that wreck of a small plane in the middle of a lagoon near the Itonama River.

## Search and rescue
Bolivian President Luis Arce announced on social media that he had instructed the Bolivian Air Force to launch an immediate search and rescue operation. Adriana Leigue, the pilot's wife, said that a group of fishermen saw the passengers and heard their screams and cries for help during the early morning, near the Pedro Ignacio Muiba bridge.

The aircraft was located near the Pedro Ignacio Muiba community, thanks to the precision of the aerial work and ground tracking. The confirmation of the discovery occurred after 48 hours of searching and mobilization of specialized teams, local authorities and volunteers. 

"We found them and we are evacuating them to Trinidad!" was the phrase that activated the positive alert in the communication between the pilot of the search helicopter, confirming the rescue of the five crew members. The five occupants were found alive and in stable condition.

They received food, immediate medical attention and were transferred by air to the city of Trinidad, where they are under observation and institutional protection.

## Aftermath
According to one passenger, the plane's engine was malfunctioning before it lost power and crashed near the Itonomas River, in an area with trees and dense vegetation. The pilot attempted to land in a clearer spot without trees or swampy terrain. The aircraft slid about 20 meters further, and the propeller got tangled in the grass, causing the plane to flip over.

Rescue videos show the aircraft crashed in a swampy area, floating in the water. Passenger Roberta Velarde said the pilot struggled to control the plane and told them: “We’re going to a place where everyone will be okay.” There were many lizards and caimans near the crash site.

The same aircraft had experienced a previous incident on April 26, 2013, when it made an emergency landing on a street in Puerto Ballivián, Trinidad, due to engine failure. The plane was severely damaged. This may be related to the April 30, 2025 accident.

## Investigation
The General Directorate of Civil Aeronautics (DGAC) of Bolivia has launched a technical investigation to determine the causes of the emergency landing of a Cessna 172 aircraft, registration CP-1099, which occurred on Wednesday, April 30, in a swampy area of Beni.

“Within the framework of Bolivian Aeronautical Regulation RAB 830, the Accident and Incident Investigation and Prevention Unit (AIG) has already begun the investigation process to identify the probable causes of the incident,” the statement reads.

## References