What happened
On July 27, 2008, a Piper PA-34-200T, registration CS-AUE, departed Bragança Municipal Aerodrome for Coimbra with a single pilot on board. The flight was intended to reposition the aircraft for maintenance work involving the installation of new radio equipment.
Shortly after takeoff, while climbing to 8,000 feet, the pilot contacted Flight Information Service (FIS) to report that he was not feeling well. Approximately thirty minutes later, the pilot made a distressed transmission, stating he was feeling ill, before abruptly ceasing all radio communications. The aircraft continued past its destination and was last tracked by radar approximately 190 nautical miles west of Cabo da Roca.
The investigation
The GPIAAF investigation focused on the sequence of events following the pilot's medical distress. An Air Force intercept mission was launched, involving a pair of F-16 fighters. The fighters successfully intercepted the aircraft, noting that while the pilot was visible in the cockpit, he was unresponsive to visual signals and radio calls.
The investigation examined the Search and Rescue (SAR) response, noting that while various assets including an EH-101 helicopter, a corvette, and several fixed-wing aircraft (C-212 and P-3P) were deployed, none were able to maintain visual contact or establish the exact location of the impact. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's medical history and the air traffic controller's actions during the emergency.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was pilot incapacitation in flight, which resulted in the aircraft flying uncontrolled until fuel exhaustion, leading to its presumed impact in the sea.
- The pilot had reported feeling unwell the day before the flight and had even declined social activities due to his health.
- The pilot failed to divert to a nearby aerodrome (such as Vila Real or Viseu) immediately upon the first signs of illness.
- The FIS operator did not suggest an immediate landing at an enroute aerodrome to ensure the pilot could receive medical assistance.
- SAR services were unable to provide an effective escort mission. The F-16 fighters lacked the endurance to stay with the aircraft, and the available helicopter lacked the speed and range to intercept the aircraft before it reached its fuel limit.
Safety action
To improve future responses to aircraft in distress, the GPIAAF issued a recommendation to the Ministry of Defence to evaluate the capacity, readiness, and suitability of SAR assets. The goal is to establish more effective reaction timings and ensure that assets capable of intercepting and escorting distressed aircraft are available to maintain visual contact until the moment of impact.