What happened
During an approach and landing at Cascais aerodrome, a Beechcraft 18 touched down with excessive speed and an improper aircraft attitude, causing the aircraft to bounce on the first runway contact. Following a second touchdown, the aircraft entered a divergent dynamic characterized by successive deviations to the left and right. This resulted in a ground loop, during which the aircraft rotated approximately 220 degrees from its initial heading and exited the runway onto the left shoulder.
During the excursion, the right wingtip of the Beechcraft 18 struck a Cessna 152 that was holding on the taxiway, awaiting takeoff for a flight instruction session. While the crews of both aircraft escaped without injury, the collision caused significant damage. The Beechcraft 18 suffered a collapsed tail wheel, damage to the rear fuselage, vertical stabilizers, and rudders, as well as damage to the right landing gear braking system. The Cessna 152 sustained substantial damage to its left wing and the cockpit area of the fuselage.
The investigation
The GPIAAF investigation examined the aircraft's condition, the environmental factors, and the pilot's recent flight history. Investigators noted that while some aircraft components showed signs of degradation due to inactivity or lack of preservation, no mechanical failure was linked to the runway excursion. The investigation also reviewed the meteorological conditions, noting a reported wind of 290/09kt, which provided an 8-knot right crosswind component for runway 17.
Findings
- The primary cause of the event was inadequate piloting technique during landing, specifically involving excessive directional correction (PIO).
- A contributing factor was the pilot's reduced proficiency with this specific aircraft model under the recorded wind conditions, as the pilot had not operated the aircraft type since 2018.