What happened
On September 5, 2012, a Socata TB-200, registration CS-DEH, was conducting a local solo training flight near the Évora aerodrome in Portugal. The student pilot, operating under call sign Diana-315, had completed several maneuvers and was returning to the field for a full-stop landing. After contacting the tower and being instructed to use runway 01, the pilot reported being on the downwind leg. Upon receiving instructions to proceed to the final approach, the aircraft disappeared from radio contact.
The aircraft subsequently crashed in an open agricultural field, located approximately 2,400 meters from the threshold of runway 01. The impact resulted in the death of the student pilot and the total destruction of the aircraft.
The investigation
The GPIAAF investigation established that the flight was properly authorized and the student pilot was legally permitted to conduct the solo operation. Technical inspections of the aircraft revealed no pre-existing mechanical issues, and while the original weight and balance calculations could not be recovered, the aircraft's mass and balance were determined to be within the manufacturer's normal operating limits. The investigation focused on the aerodynamic conditions during the final stages of the landing pattern.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was loss of control at low altitude and low speed, which led to a deep stall and subsequent spin.
- The pilot's lack of experience contributed to an inability to detect the onset of the stall condition in a timely manner.
- The low altitude at which the stall occurred left insufficient margin for effective recovery maneuvers.
- It is believed the pilot may have applied aggressive control inputs while attempting to execute a precise right turn to the final approach, likely driven by a desire to maintain a perfect flight profile and avoid overshooting the centerline.