What happened
On March 19, 2013, a Piper PA-28-161, registration EC-DAF, was conducting a private VFR flight from Mutxamel to the same airfield. The aircraft was carrying the pilot and two passengers, who were all members of the same family. During the flight, the aircraft flew over the town of Castalla, where the passengers resided, performing several low-altitude orbits.
Witnesses observed the aircraft flying at very low altitudes, approximately 20 meters above the ground, during its initial passes. During a subsequent maneuver, the aircraft's left wingtip was seen nearly touching the treetops of a residential garden. The pilot then executed a sharp right bank, after which the aircraft disappeared from view. A loud impact and a large cloud of dust were subsequently noted by observers.
The aircraft struck the terrain south of Castalla, impacting several mounds of earth and debris. The impact was severe enough to destroy the aircraft and caused the left wing to detach. All 3 occupants—the pilot and two passengers—died due to the forces of the impact.
The investigation
The investigation examined the aircraft's mechanical condition, the flight path, and the environmental factors. Inspections of the Lycoming O-320-D3G engine and propeller revealed no evidence of mechanical failure prior to the accident; the propeller damage was consistent with high-RPM impact with the ground. The aircraft's documentation, including its airworthiness certificate and the pilot's license, were all valid at the time of the event.
Investigators reconstructed the flight path, determining that the pilot encountered a 43.5-meter-tall telecommunications antenna in the flight path. To avoid this obstacle, the pilot initiated a rapid left bank. This maneuver increased the aircraft's angle of bank and induced a loss of altitude. In an attempt to recover, the pilot applied a right bank, but the aircraft lacked sufficient altitude and airspeed to stabilize the flight, leading to the final impact.
Findings
- The aircraft was operating at an altitude significantly lower than the minimum safety margins required by regulations for flying over populated areas.
- The pilot experienced a loss of control in flight while attempting to maneuver around an unexpected obstacle.
- A lack of situational awareness likely contributed to the accident, as the low-altitude maneuvering over a familiar area may have distracted the pilot from maintaining safe clearance from terrain and obstacles.
- The aircraft's engine and systems were functioning normally prior to the impact.