What happened
During an approach and landing at Cascais aerodrome, a Beechcraft 18 experienced a series of uncontrolled movements on the runway. The aircraft touched down with such high speed and an improper attitude that it bounced on the first contact. Following a second touchdown, the aircraft entered a divergent dynamic, oscillating left and right. This sequence led to a runway excursion to the left, causing the aircraft to perform a ground loop that rotated it approximately 220 degrees from its original heading. During this excursion, the right wingtip of the Beechcraft 18 struck a Cessna 152 that was holding on the taxiway awaiting takeoff for an instructional flight.
Both crews emerged from the event uninjured. The Beechcraft 18 sustained damage to its rear fuselage, vertical stabilizers, and rudders after the tail wheel collapsed upon striking the edge of the taxiway. The Cessna 152 suffered substantial damage to its left wing and the cockpit area of its fuselage.
The investigation
The GPIAAF examined the aircraft condition, crew data, and environmental factors present during the event. The investigation noted that while some components of the Beechcraft 18 showed signs of degradation due to inactivity or lack of preservation, no mechanical failure was linked to the excursion. The investigation also considered the pilot's experience, noting that the 57-year-old pilot had not operated this specific aircraft model since 2018. Environmental conditions at the time of landing included a cloudy sky and a wind from 290 degrees at 09 knots, which created an 8-knot right crosswind component for runway 17.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was inadequate piloting technique during landing, characterized by excessive directional correction (PIO).
- A contributing factor was the pilot's reduced proficiency with this specific aircraft model under the reported wind conditions.