Leandro Andrés Bertazzo: Argentine Instructor’s Mid-Air Death Investigated – Why?

There is some disturbing news out of Córdoba, Argentina, and it involves an instructor named Leandro Andrés Bertazzo. While the USA celebrated the Fourth of July weekend, he jumped out of a plane to his death.

At the moment, many people ponder why there is an investigation going on. Read on to find out more.

The Training Flight

The 42-year-old flight instructor was with a student pilot named Rosario. One can only imagine her horror when he climbed out of the Cessna C-150 mid-flight. He left her alone in the cockpit. No co-pilot. No backup.

International Business Times reported that before the jump, he said to Rosario, “You know what you have to do, carry on.” Next thing, he took off his headset, sorted out a few personal items and then just exited the plane.

Keeping Cool Under Pressure

Those interested in aviation might think that Rosario has a great future as a pilot because although she didn’t have much flying experience, she kept very cool and contacted air traffic control.

Later, she landed the plane safely at Coronel Olmedo Airport, the Daily Mail reported.

Search teams found Bertazzo’s body in a field about 20 minutes later.

The Investigation

At first, it looked like suicide, but there’s more to why it became an investigation. Authorities have made it clear that no formal complaints are on the books.

Investigators aren’t looking for an accomplice, and they aren’t hunting down a second person who might have been involved in a crime. The search here is for answers, not a runaway suspect.

When someone dies in an airplane, the law requires a check into all aspects to find out why it happened. For example, could someone have tried to terrify the student?

That could be criminal intent. Or, was the instructor fit to fly, and if not, did the flight school err in allowing Leandro Andrés Bertazzo to fly the plane.

Investigators also need to rule out foul play because until some checks are done, nobody knows apart from Rosario whether a struggle took place in the plane.

The Plane, Endangerment & More

Investigators are expected to examine the aircraft itself, including whether any mechanical issue, such as a faulty door latch, played a role.

While an accidental opening seems unlikely at this stage, aircraft deaths require a lot of boxes to be ticked.

There’s a serious legal question here about endangerment even though Bertazzo can’t face charges now. He’s dead. But by leaving a novice student alone in mid-air, he allegedly put her at considerable risk.

Argentine media reports have discussed the legal concept of homicidio con dolo eventual (roughly, conditional intent), although investigators have not announced any criminal charges because Bertazzo died in the incident.

The Mental Health Issue

Then comes the question of his mental state. Bertazzo’s colleagues described him as a cheerful guy. His actions caught everyone off guard. But his family later revealed he was dealing with deeper issues.

According to the Neuropsychiatry Center, neuropsychiatric treatment is medical care provided by specialists who treat conditions involving both the brain and mental health, combining expertise from neurology and psychiatry.

Reportedly, Bertazzo had been receiving that sort of care, and few people at the flight school reportedly knew about his medical history.

Until more information is released, investigators will likely examine whether any undisclosed medical condition affected his fitness to fly and whether all aviation medical requirements were met.

There’s an obvious question about whether Leandro Andrés Bertazzo hid his treatment to keep his license.

Liability Beyond the Instructor’s Actions

Aviation investigators will more than likely check all logs and medical certificates to see how a pilot allegedly undergoing neuropsychiatric care was still flying students.

If the investigation shows that relevant medical information was missed or required procedures were not followed, attention could turn to the school’s administration.

And any fault could lead to them facing liability for the incident.

Rosario made it back safely, but it could take a long time for her to deal with the trauma. There are also some lessons to be learned because aviation authorities might find better ways to track the mental health of pilots.

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