What happened
On April 30, 2006, an Italian-registered Tecnam P92 Echo, registration I-5652, crashed near Monte do Lago, Montargil. The flight originated from Badajoz, Spain, and was destined for a private landing strip at a rural tourism site in Portugal. The flight was conducted without a filed flight plan, without prior authorization to enter Portuguese airspace, and without any radio communication with the Lisbon Flight Information Centre.
Upon arriving at the destination, the pilot performed a flyover to assess the windsock and runway conditions. Choosing to land on runway 32, the pilot executed a wide and high approach. The aircraft maintained an excessive speed and an approach profile above the normal glide slope. The aircraft touched down past the midpoint of the runway, leaving insufficient distance to decelerate. The pilot attempted to use the brakes intermittently but was unable to stop the aircraft before it reached the end of the paved surface.
After overrunning the runway, the aircraft crossed a perimeter wall and flew over a 15-meter drop-off at the end of the strip. The aircraft struck the ground at a steep angle of more than 45 degrees in a cork oak grove, approximately 50 meters beyond the runway end. The impact caused significant structural damage to the airframe, including the destruction of the cockpit, wing deformation, and the loss of the landing gear.
The investigation
The GPIAAF investigation established that the pilot, a qualified ultralight pilot with approximately 350 hours of experience, performed an unstabilized approach. The investigation noted that the presence of trees and buildings near the runway threshold can create an optical illusion, leading pilots to fly higher than the standard glide slope. Furthermore, the investigation found that the pilot failed to execute a go-around (missed approach) maneuver when it became apparent that the aircraft could not stop within the remaining runway length.
Findings
- The approach was performed at excessive speed and above the normal glide slope.
- The pilot failed to initiate a go-around maneuver despite the high-speed touchdown and insufficient stopping distance.
- The pilot used intermittent braking techniques, which reduced braking efficiency.
- The aircraft touched down past the middle of the runway.
- Both the pilot and the passenger sustained serious injuries, including multiple fractures.
- The aircraft was destroyed during the impact.
- The flight was conducted without a flight plan or communication with Portuguese air traffic services.