History of the Flight
The flight was part of a sightseeing tour of the Iberian Peninsula organized by the International Fellowship of Flying Rotarians. The Piper PA-32RT-300T, registration G-BMEV, departed from Runway 35 of Cascais Municipal Aerodrome at 10:53 UTC on 3 July 2002, with four occupants on board, destined for Vilar da Luz. Twelve minutes into the flight, the pilot contacted the Lisbon Flight Information Service (FIS) and requested a return to the departure aerodrome because he could not continue the flight under visual flight rules due to adverse weather conditions. The FIS instructed the pilot to proceed directly to Cabo da Roca, follow the coastline back to Cascais, and contact the tower. At 11:10:16, the return was authorized. The pilot was advised to maintain an altitude of 1,000 feet. At 11:16:50, the FIS observed the aircraft moving away from the coastline and requested the pilot to return to the coast. At 11:19:10, the pilot confirmed visual contact with the ground despite poor visibility. The FIS then instructed the pilot to contact Cascais Tower. The pilot did not make contact.
Aircraft and Crew
The aircraft was a 1978 Piper PA-32RT-300T, serial number 32R-7887056, equipped with a Lycoming TIO-540-S1AD engine (serial number L-3585-61A) and a Hartzell propeller. The engine had been reinstalled three weeks prior after inspection and repair of an oil leak. The pilot, a 58-year-old British male, held a valid Private Pilot's License (Aeroplane) for single-engine land aircraft, issued by the UK Civil Aviation Authority, and a valid Class 2 medical certificate requiring corrective lenses for near vision. His instrument rating had expired on 13 July 1997. He had a total flight experience of 966 hours, of which about 940 hours were on the accident aircraft. He had flown approximately 13 hours in the previous 90 days, including a 2.1-hour flight 48 hours before the accident.
Meteorological Conditions
At the time of departure, conditions at Cascais were visual meteorological conditions (VMC) with clear sky and wind from the northwest. The Serra de Sintra was covered by stratus and stratocumulus clouds. At Cabo da Roca, the weather was reported as very cloudy with light wind. A meteorological observation at Sintra Air Base at 10:00 UTC recorded wind from the north at 10 knots.
Impact
At 11:20:22, the aircraft collided with the Serra de Sintra near Peninha at coordinates 38°46'31"N 009°27'45"W. The aircraft was destroyed and all four occupants—the pilot and three passengers—sustained fatal injuries. No damage to third parties occurred; the impact area consisted of vegetation and pine trees.