What happened
On December 15, 2002, a Cessna 150L, registration CS-AUH, crashed near the village of Óbidos, Portugal, at approximately 14:10 UTC. The flight originated from Coimbra Municipal Aerodrome, with the initial intent being a flight demonstration to a prospective student pilot. During the flight, the pilot altered the planned mission to satisfy the passenger's request to overfly specific locations near Óbidos.
While flying at a low altitude and low airspeed, the aircraft was configured with flaps extended. As the pilot attempted to climb to clear obstacles near the Serra de Usseira ridge, the aircraft failed to achieve a sufficient climb gradient. The aircraft struck the ground in a nose-high attitude at low speed. The pilot sustained serious injuries, including head and spinal trauma, while the passenger sustained minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact.
The investigation
The GPIAAF investigation established that the aircraft was mechanically sound and fully maintained, with no mechanical failures contributing to the accident. The investigation noted that the engine was at maximum power at the moment of impact, and the propeller blades were bent backward, indicating the engine was operating normally.
Investigators found that the pilot had not submitted a flight plan or notice of intent for the flight. Furthermore, the pilot had descended below the minimum VFR altitude requirements for the area. The analysis focused on the aerodynamic configuration of the aircraft during the climb attempt, specifically the impact of flap settings on the climb performance.