What happened
On February 9, 2016, a Cessna 172 P, registration EC-LSY, crashed into a mountainside in Las Muelas, within the municipality of Segura de la Sierra, Jaén. The flight originated from Valencia airport, with the intended destination being Granada airport.
During the return leg, the pilot encountered significant headwinds that drastically reduced the aircraft's ground speed. Approximately two hours and 13 minutes into the flight, the pilot contacted the Seville control center to request a diversion to the Beas de Segura aerodrome, fearing that the strong winds would prevent arrival at Granada before sunset. At the time of the diversion request, the aircraft was approximately 11 nautical miles from the Beas de Segura field.
At 19:00, radar and radio contact with the aircraft was lost. Shortly thereafter, an eyewitness reported seeing a small plane crash in the mountains. The wreckage was located the following morning; the aircraft was destroyed, and the pilot, a 47-year-old private pilot, sustained fatal injuries.
The investigation
The CIAIAC investigation examined the aircraft's flight profile, meteorological conditions, and the pilot's decision-making process. Radar data revealed that the aircraft's ground speed had dropped significantly below the planned cruise speed due to the headwind. Investigators also analyzed the weather reports, noting that a powerful cold front was crossing the Iberian Peninsula, bringing mountain waves and strong winds to the area.
The investigation reviewed the pilot's use of navigation software on a tablet and the communications between the pilot and air traffic controllers. The controllers had specifically warned the pilot of the low ground speed and the potential for dangerous mountain waves at the chosen diversion site.
Findings
- The accident was likely the result of controlled flight into terrain.
- The pilot exhibited improper route management, having flown for over two hours at a speed well below the flight plan's parameters without amending the route.
- The proximity of sunset likely influenced the pilot to select the Beas de Segura aerodrome based solely on its distance, failing to account for the hazardous mountainous terrain and the prevailing weather conditions.
- The pilot's decision to divert to a mountainous area during a period of forecast mountain waves and high winds contributed to the impact.