The 22-year-old pilot safely returned a Cessna 150G to an airfield near Córdoba while authorities began investigating her instructor’s death.
CÓRDOBA, ARGENTINA — A 22-year-old pilot landed a small training plane alone July 4 after her instructor left the aircraft during a flight over a rural area near Toledo, Argentine authorities and the flight school’s director said.
The instructor, 42-year-old Leandro Andrés Bertazzo, was found dead in a field after the student returned safely to Coronel Olmedo Airport. Federal prosecutor Carlos Gonella is leading an investigation into Bertazzo’s death, while the Cessna 150G used during the lesson remains under police protection for examination. Authorities have not announced criminal charges or identified evidence that another person caused his death.
The flight began Saturday afternoon at Coronel Olmedo Airport, south of the city of Córdoba. Bertazzo and the student, identified in local reports only by her first name, Rosario, took off for an instructional flight over the Toledo area. Eduardo Álvarez, director of the Flying Parrot Córdoba flight school, said Bertazzo had already completed another lesson earlier that day. During the later flight, he handed control of the aircraft to the student and told her to keep it steady. “He told her to maintain the flight,” Álvarez said while recounting the student’s statement. Bertazzo then removed his headset and seat belt, placed his personal belongings in order and opened the aircraft door. The student told investigators that he left the plane moments later. She remained at the controls and sent a message to report what had happened.
The aircraft was flying over farmland near Toledo, about 20 miles southeast of central Córdoba, when the incident occurred. Local reports placed the plane at roughly 250 meters, or about 820 feet, above the ground. Rosario initially struggled to understand what she had seen and believed Bertazzo might be performing an unexpected exercise or wearing safety equipment, Álvarez said. She soon realized that she was alone. The student, who already held a private pilot license, maintained the plane’s course and began the return to Coronel Olmedo. She landed without injury and without reported damage to the aircraft. Álvarez described the landing as controlled and professional despite her distress. Emergency authorities received notice of the incident at about 6 p.m. and began searching the countryside beneath the plane’s reported route.
After speaking with the student, Álvarez took off in another aircraft to look for Bertazzo. He searched for about 15 to 20 minutes before spotting a location that matched the student’s description. Álvarez relayed the coordinates to authorities on the ground. Officers from the regional rural patrol and emergency medical workers traveled to the field, where they found Bertazzo and confirmed his death. The student was not physically injured, but Álvarez said she was in shock after landing. Investigators have not released a full recording of her account, flight communications or any electronic data that may have been recovered. They also have not publicly stated whether the Cessna carried recording equipment capable of preserving cockpit audio. Small training aircraft do not generally carry the flight data and cockpit voice recorders required on large passenger planes.
Bertazzo had worked with Flying Parrot Córdoba since 2022 and held several aviation qualifications, according to the school and local reports. He was described as an experienced commercial pilot and instructor who was trusted by colleagues and students. Álvarez said Bertazzo appeared cheerful and composed before the flight and had not shown the school any clear warning that he might be in immediate danger. The director recalled greeting him normally before the day’s lessons and said his appearance and behavior did not seem unusual. Bertazzo’s family later told Álvarez that he had recently sought psychiatric care while going through a difficult period. Authorities have not released medical records or identified a diagnosis. Investigators also have not said whether any health professional had restricted Bertazzo from flying or whether aviation regulators had received information about his condition.
The case first went to Patricia Baulies, the provincial prosecutor in Río Segundo, whose office took initial investigative steps. The office placed the Cessna under police custody before determining that the matter fell within federal jurisdiction because it involved an aircraft in flight. The case was then transferred to Gonella, the federal prosecutor overseeing Córdoba offices during the judicial recess. In a statement issued July 7, federal prosecutors said the inquiry was intended to clarify the circumstances of Bertazzo’s death. The statement confirmed his age, the Toledo location and the seizure of the Cessna, but did not describe his actions inside the cockpit. Prosecutors said no private parties had formally joined the case as complainants. They added that further information would be released through official channels because of the case’s sensitivity.
Investigators are expected to examine the aircraft’s doors, restraints and controls, along with its maintenance and flight records. They may also review communications among the student, the flight school and air traffic personnel. No mechanical problem has been publicly identified, and the student’s account indicates that the aircraft remained controllable throughout the emergency. The safe landing will help investigators inspect the plane in its postflight condition rather than reconstruct it from wreckage. Authorities have not announced when the Cessna will be released or whether Argentina’s aviation safety investigators will issue a separate technical report. The federal prosecutor’s office also has not set a date for its next public briefing. Any determination about Bertazzo’s state of mind will depend on witness statements, medical information and other records gathered during the inquiry.
The Cessna 150 is a two-seat, single-engine aircraft widely used for basic flight instruction. Its side-by-side seating places the student and instructor within reach of the same main controls, allowing either pilot to operate the plane. During lessons, students routinely practice takeoffs, landings and responses to simulated emergencies while an instructor monitors their actions. Rosario’s license meant she had completed previous training and demonstrated basic flying skills, although officials have not released her total number of flight hours or the purpose of Saturday’s lesson. Álvarez said her training was clear in the way she handled the sudden loss of her instructor. She kept the aircraft stable, communicated the emergency and completed a safe landing. The school has not said when she might fly again or what support has been offered after the incident.
At the airfield, colleagues described disbelief as the Cessna returned with only the student aboard. Álvarez said Bertazzo had behaved normally before departure and was remembered at the school for his friendly manner. “He was a wonderful human being,” the director said. Bertazzo’s father also told local media that his son had faced personal difficulties, though the family did not provide further details. Federal investigators have avoided making a final public finding while they collect evidence. The inquiry must establish the sequence inside the plane, confirm the flight path and rule out any technical or outside factor. Rosario’s account remains central because she was the only other person aboard. Her name has not been released in full, and authorities have not indicated that she is suspected of wrongdoing.
The Cessna remained in official custody as of July 10, and Gonella’s office had announced no charges or final conclusion. The next milestone will be the federal review of the aircraft, witness accounts and available medical and flight records.
Author note: Last updated July 10, 2026.