History of the Flight
On 25 May 2014, an Air Tractor AT-802 aircraft, registration EC-LCA, operated by SAETA S.L., was engaged in firefighting operations in the province of Almería, Spain. The aircraft was stationed at the Gérgal runway and used the callsign A1. Throughout the morning, it responded to multiple fires ignited by lightning strikes from storms on 24 and 25 May.
At 09:00, the Provincial Operations Center (COP) received a report of smoke in El Castillo, municipality of Oria. Aircraft A1 took off at 10:04, made an initial water drop at 10:30, and returned to base at 10:49. Later, at 12:32, a fire was reported in the municipality of Serón, in the area of Cortijo de Juan Oller. A1 took off again at 12:44, made a water drop at the Serón fire, and returned to base at 13:14.
At 13:21, another fire was reported in Fiñana. A1 departed at 13:40, but after the small size of the Fiñana fire was confirmed, the Operations Specialist (TOP) in Serón requested A1's return to the Serón fire. The pilot circled several times over the fire area, unable to locate the precise drop point.
Accident Sequence
Subsequently, the aircraft was observed away from the fire but flying toward it. It made an unexpected water drop near a hillside more than one kilometer from the fire. During the drop, the aircraft performed a sharp turn and banked hard to the right, causing it to impact the terrain.
Injuries and Damage
The pilot, the sole occupant of the aircraft, was killed. The aircraft was completely charred by the fire that broke out after the impact.
Aircraft Information
The aircraft was an Air Tractor AT-802, serial number 802-0326, registration EC-LCA. It was owned and operated by SAETA, SL. The flight was categorized as general aviation – other, for firefighting purposes. The phase of flight at the time of the accident was en route – cruise.
Investigation Findings
The investigation determined that the accident was caused by a loss of control during a maneuver to perform a water drop, which resulted in an impact with the ground. No safety recommendations were issued in the final report.