Accident Overview
On August 03, 2020, at 06:35 UTC, a Tecnam P2008 JC ultra-light aircraft, registration SX-IRN, operated by SKIES AVIATION ACADEMY, was involved in an accident at Proti Serron. The aircraft was on an Air Navigation SOLO Flight with a student pilot on board. The flight was planned and briefed for an altitude of 4,500 ft MSL.
Sequence of Events
During the flight, the student pilot contacted Kavala ATC at 05:57:20 UTC over STRYMON Point and requested to deviate from the flight plan. He asked to descend to 1,000 feet and proceed towards the villages of Rodolivos and Proti Serron, remain in the area for ten minutes, then continue to ALISTRATI. According to the GPS GARMIN flight recorder, the pilot deviated, descended, and overflew the villages of Rodolivos and Proti Serron for 20 minutes. While maneuvering over Proti Serron, the aircraft collided with the top of a platanus tree, cut off branches, and ended up in a vertical position on the facade of a building. The aircraft caused minor damage to the building and a parked motorcycle.
Aircraft and Personnel
The aircraft was a Tecnam P2008 JC, manufactured in 2019, with a Rotax 912 engine and a total of 215 flight hours. It had a valid airworthiness certificate and had undergone a 200-hour inspection on July 22, 2020. The student pilot held a valid Class 1 medical certificate and had a total of 51:35 flight hours, all within the last 90 days. The aircraft was equipped with a GPS GARMIN flight recorder that recorded track, altitude, speed, and ground proximity warnings. The flight recorder data showed altitudes from 36 to 236 feet and speeds from 46 to 120 knots during the maneuvering phase.
Injuries and Damage
The student pilot suffered minor injuries and was transported to a local hospital. No other persons were injured. The aircraft sustained major damage and was considered a total loss. Minor damages to a building and a motorcycle were reported. There was no fire.
The accident investigation was conducted by the Hellenic Republic Air Accident Investigation and Aviation Safety Board. No probable cause was determined.