Incident Overview
On the afternoon of August 23, 1998, a Cessna Model 152 with registration CS-AUS departed from Vilar de Luz Airfield (LPVL) for a forest fire reconnaissance and surveillance mission. The aircraft was owned and operated by the Aeroclube do Porto. The flight involved two planned sorties of approximately one hour and thirty minutes each.
Flight Details and Emergency
During the return leg of the first sortie, while flying at an altitude of 3,000 feet over Valongo, the engine experienced intermittent sputtering before stopping completely. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, immediately contacted Porto Air Traffic Control (APP). Due to poor horizontal visibility caused by smoke from the fires and late-afternoon mist, as well as a lack of suitable emergency landing sites near the airfield, the pilot decided against attempting to reach LPVL.
Crash Sequence
The pilot selected an open cornfield in the location of Nossa Senhora da Paz, Alfena, Valongo. Around 14:20 UTC, the aircraft touched down successfully. However, immediately following touchdown, the plane nosed over and came to rest inverted. The pilot exited the wreckage without injury. No fuel leaks or strong fuel odors were reported at the scene.
Investigation and Damages
The accident was notified to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGAC) by local authorities on the same day. Technical investigation began the following day, August 24, and was subsequently transferred to the Air Accident Prevention and Investigation Office (GPIAA). The aircraft sustained severe damage, including a fractured nose gear, damaged firewall, and a fractured engine mount. The propeller showed no visual damage.