What happened
On June 26, 2005, at approximately 19:30 UTC, a Piper Cherokee PA-28-180, registration CS-ALO, was performing a series of touch-and-go training landings at the Aeródromo de Paramos in Espinho, Portugal. After two successful landings, the pilot executed a third approach that resulted in the aircraft touching down near the midpoint of runway 36.
Due to the touchdown point, the pilot had insufficient runway remaining to either stop the aircraft or initiate a safe go-around. The aircraft overran the runway and collided with a car traveling on the road running along the northern edge of the airfield. The impact caused the aircraft's fuel tanks to rupture, triggering a massive fire that consumed both the aircraft and the vehicle. The driver of the car died at the scene. Although the pilot managed to egress the aircraft, he sustained severe burns and passed away two days later.
The investigation
The GPIAAF investigation examined the aircraft, the pilot's experience, and the airfield conditions. The investigation found that the aircraft was well-maintained and that no mechanical failures were evident; witnesses reported the engine was functioning normally during the approach. The pilot, a 24-year-old with approximately 52 hours of total flight time, was performing the flight to fulfill requirements for license renewal.
Investigators also scrutinized the airfield's infrastructure. At the time of the accident, a local festival (S. João) was occurring nearby, leading to high volumes of pedestrian and vehicular traffic near the airfield. The investigation noted that the runway surface was degraded, covered with sand and small pebbles, which likely compromised braking effectiveness. Furthermore, discrepancies were found in the Civil Pilot Manual (MPC) regarding the declared runway strip widths for this aerodrome.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the insufficient runway remaining to safely stop the aircraft following a long touchdown.
- The degraded condition of the runway surface, characterized by sand and loose stones, likely reduced available friction for braking.
- The presence of unauthorized or uncontrolled vehicular and pedestrian traffic on the road adjacent to the runway increased the severity of the impact.
- Inaccurate runway strip width data in the official Civil Pilot Manual contributed to a misunderstanding of the available safety margins.
- The post-impact fire was caused by the rupture of the aircraft's fuel tanks upon collision.