Socata TB10 CS-DDH accident at Viseu, Portugal

Overview and Flight History On 20 April 2003, a Socata TB10 with registration CS-DDH, belonging to the civil aviation school LEÁVIA, departed runway 19 at Viseu Municipal Aerodrome at 15:45 UTC. The aircraft turned left and disappeared near a dark cloud. The pilot, a 24-year-old Portuguese flight instructor, had traveled from Tires to Viseu for an Easter lunch with family. A VFR flight plan filed in Cascais had an estimated time of departure from Viseu of 15:30 UTC and an alternate of Lisbon. ## Weather and Conditions The Viseu aerodrome had no meteorological or flight information service. The pilot relied on visual observation. A civil pilot present reported low cloud ceilings and visibility sufficient to see the VOR station, some pines, and the horizon. The Portuguese Institute of Meteorology recorded continuous moderate rain and fog at Viseu between 15:00 and 17:00 UTC, with horizontal visibility between 0.2 and 3.0 km. The accident occurred during the day in poor visibility. ## Search and Findings At 18:00 UTC, the controller at Cascais had not received communications from the aircraft and began contacting Lisbon ACC and other regional aerodromes. The disappearance was confirmed at 19:00 UTC, and searches began at 19:08 UTC, continuing through the night. At 08:15 UTC the following day, a National Fire Service helicopter based in Santa Comba Dão located the wreckage approximately 1.7 km east of Viseu Municipal Aerodrome at coordinates 40°43.236'N, 007°52.304'W. ## Casualties and Damage The accident resulted in the deaths of both occupants: the pilot and a younger brother. The aircraft was destroyed. No third-party damage was recorded. ## Aircraft and Maintenance The aircraft was a Socata TB10, serial number 280, manufactured in 1982, with a Lycoming O-360-A1AD engine and a Hartzell HC-C2YK-1BF propeller. Total airframe time was 3,556:20. The annual inspection was completed on 5 April 2003. The aircraft was certified by INAC, and its navigation log, station license, certificate of airworthiness, and insurance were verified as conforming. The placards indicated day VFR flight conditions and that icing conditions were not allowed. The aircraft was equipped with a vacuum system and an artificial horizon.