What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2014-10-25 involved a Tecnam P92 Echo, registration CS-UMY, at Mirandela, PT.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The accident was caused by an intentional low-altitude flight maneuver that resulted in a collision with a tree, leading to structural failure of the wing and subsequent loss of control.

Ultralight Aircraft Destroyed in Low-Altitude Tree Collision

A Tecnam P92 Echo crashed at Mirandela Aerodrome after an intentional low-altitude maneuver resulted in a collision with trees and a subsequent fire.

What happened

On October 25, 2014, a Tecnam P92 Echo, registration CS-UMY, was performing local flight circuits at Mirandela Aerodrome (LPMI) in Portugal. The flight was operated by Aero Clube de Mirandela and was manned by a qualified flight instructor and a passenger who was a recent student in ultralight pilot training.

After taking off from runway 17 and completing a 180-degree turn, the pilot initiated a descending left turn toward the Aero Clube de Mirandela hangar, intending to perform a low pass. During this maneuver, the pilot executed a steep 45-degree left bank to align with the hangar. In the process, the aircraft struck a medium-sized pine tree. The impact caused a structural failure of the left wing leading edge, which subsequently separated the left flap. This failure induced asymmetric aerodynamic forces, causing the aircraft to lose control.

The aircraft continued its uncontrolled descent, striking a mimosa tree approximately 20 meters after the first impact, before crashing onto a parked car. The aircraft slid for an additional 20 meters, coming to a halt about 75 meters from the initial collision. The impact caused fuel to spill into hot engine components, igniting a fire that consumed a large portion of the aircraft. The pilot sustained serious injuries, including fractures and second-degree burns, while the passenger sustained minor injuries.

The investigation

The GPIAAF investigation examined the flight path, the aircraft's structural integrity, and the pilot's actions. The investigation confirmed that the engine was running during the sequence of collisions and that there were no pre-existing technical malfunctions that contributed to the accident. The investigation also noted that the aircraft's flight certificate had expired at the time of the accident. Witnesses stated that the low-altitude maneuver performed by the instructor was a customary practice.

Findings

The primary cause of the accident was the intentional low-altitude maneuver that led to the collision with obstacles.
The collision with the first tree caused a structural failure of the left wing, leading to a loss of control.
The pilot, an instructor with 380 total flight hours, possessed detailed knowledge of the local terrain but engaged in high-risk maneuvering.
The aircraft's design, a high-wing configuration, resulted in limited visibility for the occupants during the final alignment with the hangar.
The post-impact fire was caused by fuel leaking onto hot engine areas following the structural failure.