What happened
On March 1, 2000, at 09:14 local time, a student pilot was performing a solo instructional flight from Sabadell Airport in Barcelona. While accelerating for takeoff on runway 31 in an American General AG-5B Tiger, registration EC-FLH, the aircraft experienced a leftward yaw approximately halfway down the runway.
In response to the deviation, the pilot attempted to abort the takeoff by cutting the engine power and applying maximum braking. During this maneuver, the aircraft veered off the left side of the runway, crossed a taxiway, and traveled across the terrain until it reached a grass parking area. The aircraft struck the left wing of a parked Piper PA-23, registration EC-BXB. This impact caused the Tiger to pivot on its left wingtip, leading the right side of its fuselage to strike the left wingtip of another parked aircraft, a Money M20M, registration F-GJMG.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the mechanical state of the aircraft and the pilot's actions during the excursion. The American General AG-5B Tiger was found to have a valid Certificate of Airworthiness and had been maintained according to the approved program. Post-accident inspections confirmed that the steering and braking systems were functioning correctly.
Investigators analyzed the meteorological conditions, noting a wind from 240 degrees at 5 knots. Because this wind was nearly perpendicular to the runway, it exerted pressure on the vertical stabilizer, creating a tendency for the aircraft to weathervane toward the wind direction. The investigation also evaluated the pilot's sequence of emergency actions, specifically the decision to shut down the engine and apply brakes immediately upon the onset of the yaw.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the inexperience of the student pilot, which prevented them from maintaining directional control of the aircraft's trajectory.
- The pilot focused exclusively on reducing kinetic energy by cutting the engine and applying brakes, neglecting to attempt directional corrections.
- A crosswind component from the left contributed to the initial leftward yaw by acting on the aircraft's vertical stabilizer.
- The aircraft sustained important damage to both wings and the right side of the fuselage, while the other involved aircraft sustained minor damage.