What happened
On July 2, 2004, at approximately 19:15 UTC, a Dyn’Aero MCR-01 experimental aircraft, registration CS-XAR, departed from the Lameira airfield for a private VFR navigation flight. The aircraft was carrying a pilot and one passenger, with a flight plan intended to fly at 3,000 feet toward Alqueidão.
During the descent, radar data showed the aircraft accelerating from 128 knots to 164 knots while descending through 1,000 feet. At this altitude, the aircraft performed an abrupt left turn. Witnesses on the banks of the Tagus River observed the aircraft flying at a low altitude with an irregular wing rocking motion and high engine power. The aircraft subsequently struck trees on the edge of a riverbank, followed by a second impact with the ground at an estimated speed of 160 knots. The collision triggered an explosion and a large fire, resulting in two fatalities.
The investigation
The GPIAAF investigation examined radar snapshots, wreckage, and witness accounts. Investigators analyzed the aircraft's performance capabilities and the pilot's qualifications. The investigation noted that the pilot held a license for 3-axis ultralight motor aircraft but was not officially rated to operate this specific high-performance experimental model.
Examination of the wreckage revealed that the left wing likely made the first impact with the trees. The investigation also noted that the aircraft's baggage compartment, located behind the seats, was full of various items and lacked any securing net or protection to prevent objects from shifting into the cockpit.
Findings
- The aircraft was an experimental, amateur-built kit aircraft with high-performance characteristics that require demanding piloting techniques.
- The pilot lacked the specific official qualification required to operate this particular model.
- Unsecured baggage in the rear compartment posed a risk, as there was no protection to prevent items from moving into the cockpit area.
- High temperatures, wind, and local topography likely created turbulence in the area.
- The investigation could not definitively determine the exact cause, but considered the possibility that turbulence caused unsecured items in the baggage area to shift, potentially interfering with the pilot's control or attention during the low-altitude flight.