What happened
On April 3, 2012, at approximately 16:30 UTC, a TL 2000 Sting, registration CS-UQL, was involved in a fatal ground collision at the Benavente Airfield in Portugal. During the takeoff phase, the aircraft entered a stall at an altitude of between 100 and 150 feet. Witnesses observed the aircraft climbing and turning in an unusual manner before the impact. The engine was still producing power at the moment of the collision, which resulted in the destruction of the aircraft and the death of both occupants.
The investigation
The GPIAA investigation established that the pilot failed to follow the manufacturer's prescribed takeoff procedures, specifically by not utilizing the flaps. Furthermore, the investigation found that the pilot allowed a passenger to take control of the aircraft during the critical phases of takeoff and landing. The analysis considered two potential scenarios: a stall caused by an abnormal nose-up attitude induced by the passenger at the controls, or a stall resulting from a sharp turn performed by the pilot at a low airspeed of less than 130 km/h.
Findings
- The aircraft stalled at a very low altitude shortly after takeoff.
- The pilot violated established takeoff procedures by operating without flaps.
- The pilot permitted a passenger to manipulate the flight controls during critical flight phases.
- The passenger's actions caused an abnormal nose-up attitude that the pilot failed to effectively correct.
- The engine was under power during the impact.