What happened
On February 9, 2003, at approximately 17:00 UTC, a Zenith Zodiac CH 601 UL, registration CS-ULU, departed from runway 33 at the Valdonas Airfield in Tomar, Portugal. The aircraft was operated by a student pilot accompanied by a passenger.
During the takeoff roll, the pilot utilized low engine power—a practice intended to preserve the engine—and prematurely rotated the nose wheel to prevent propeller damage from stones. This caused the aircraft to lift off prematurely and strike the runway again on its right wheel. After briefly re-establishing contact with the ground, the aircraft became airborne but remained unstable with significant wing rocking due to low airspeed.
As the aircraft entered a right-hand turn, it grazed the roof of a hangar and climbed sharply to avoid medium-voltage power lines. This extreme maneuver likely induced a power-on stall. The aircraft subsequently entered an abrupt descent to the right, impacting the ground with the right wing and engine. The impact also destroyed vineyard structures and a small fruit tree. The pilot sustained serious injuries and escaped the wreckage, but the passenger succumbed to severe head injuries at a hospital several days later.
The investigation
The GPIAAF investigation focused on the pilot's experience and takeoff procedures. The investigation established that the pilot was a student pilot with only 14:40 hours of logged flight time, despite claiming to have over 100 hours. Furthermore, the pilot had been trained on a Tecnam P92, a high-wing aircraft, which possesses significantly different aerodynamic characteristics than the low-wing Zenith Zodiac CH 601 UL involved in the accident.
The investigation also found that the pilot was not authorized to fly solo or carry passengers, as Portuguese regulations required a minimum of 30 flight hours for such operations. Additionally, the pilot's habitual use of reduced power during takeoff and premature rotation contributed to the loss of airspeed and control.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the loss of control of the aircraft during the climb following takeoff due to deficient piloting technique.
- A contributing factor was the pilot's lack of adaptation to the specific aircraft type, as the flight characteristics differed from his previous training.
- The pilot utilized takeoff techniques (low power and premature rotation) that deviated from manufacturer recommendations.
- The pilot was operating without the required solo or passenger-carrying endorsements.