Flight History
On 9 February 2016, at approximately 16:00 local time, a Cessna 172P aircraft, registration EC-LSY, departed Valencia Airport en route to Granada Airport. The aircraft was operated by a private pilot who had rented it from Gesplane Servicios Aéreos S.L. for the day.
After a flight time of 2 hours and 13 minutes, the pilot contacted the Seville control center requesting a diversion to Beas de Segura Aerodrome. The pilot cited strong headwinds that would prevent reaching the intended destination before sundown. Seville control maintained communication with the aircraft until 19:00, at which time both radio and radar contact were lost. At that moment, the aircraft was on the correct heading for Beas de Segura and was approximately 11 nautical miles from the aerodrome, corresponding to about 13 minutes of flight.
At Beas de Segura Aerodrome, the wind was from the southwest at 15 to 20 knots, with little visibility as it was practically nighttime.
At 19:15, Seville control received an emergency call reporting that an eyewitness had seen a small airplane crash in the mountains. The wreckage was located the following morning at 09:30 in Las Muelas, within the municipality of Segura de la Sierra (Jaen). The aircraft had impacted the mountainside and was completely destroyed. The pilot was found dead.
Investigation and Findings
The investigation was conducted by the Spanish Civil Aviation Accident and Incident Investigation Commission (CIAIAC). Analysis of the wreckage indicated that the aircraft struck the ground at a significant pitch and bank angle and at high speed. The investigation concluded that the accident was most likely the result of a controlled flight into terrain.
Contributing factors identified in the report included improper route management by the pilot. The pilot had been flying for over two hours at a cruise speed well below that specified in the flight plan before deciding to deviate from the planned route. Additionally, the proximity of sunset may have influenced the pilot's decision to select Beas de Segura as a diversion aerodrome based solely on its distance, without adequately considering the weather conditions in the area or the aerodrome's location in a mountainous region.
Aircraft and Pilot Information
The aircraft was a Cessna 172 P, registration EC-LSY. The pilot held a private pilot license and was the sole occupant. No other persons were onboard. The aircraft was completely destroyed in the impact.