What happened
On the afternoon of 19 September 2005, a Jodel DR 250-160, registration OO-TYP, crashed into the Galway Cricket Grounds at Lydican, Oranmore. The aircraft had departed from Galway Airport for a VFR flight to Saint-Ghislan, Belgium. Shortly after takeoff, the Galway Tower Controller instructed the pilot to continue under Special VFR due to deteriorating weather. The aircraft's last communication occurred at 12:35 hrs, after which it failed to report its position at the 10-mile boundary as required.
Witnesses near the site reported hearing a loud bang and seeing a portion of the aircraft's wing fly past. Eyewitnesses further observed the aircraft spinning nose-down out of the clouds with a significant part of its starboard wing already missing. The impact was severe, causing the aircraft to penetrate the ground to a depth of approximately five feet. The two occupants, both Belgian nationals, sustained fatal injuries.
The investigation
The AAIU investigation examined the wreckage, flight logs, and air traffic control transcripts. Investigators analyzed the distribution of debris, which included a section of the starboard wing located 422 meters from the main impact site. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's experience, the aircraft's maintenance history, and the meteorological conditions at the time of the accident.
Technical analysis of the wreckage revealed no evidence of pre-existing structural defects or mechanical malfunctions in the engine or flight control systems. Furthermore, there was no evidence of atmospheric turbulence that could have caused the structural failure. The investigation also noted the presence of two altimeters; one was found covered with cardboard, and another, found loose, was marked as unserviceable.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the failure of the starboard wing due to a gross structural overload in upload.
- This overload was likely triggered by an attempted recovery maneuver from an unusual attitude while the aircraft was operating in Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC).
- The pilot was licensed for VFR flight only, but the aircraft entered IMC, leading to spatial disorientation.
- The use of an unserviceable, stand-alone altimeter may have contributed to the pilot's loss of control.
- The weather conditions at takeoff were marginal for VFR operations, and the pilot did not seek a specific weather forecast for the return leg.