What happened
On May 13, 2000, a Hispano Aviación HA 200 «SAETA», registration EC-GLX, was conducting local flight training at Córdoba Airport in preparation for an upcoming air festival. The flight, which included the pilot and an aviation mechanic, departed from runway 21 at approximately 13:15 local time.
After flying briefly southwest of the airport, the aircraft returned toward the airfield in level flight. The flight path involved a 180-degree left turn over the terminal building, followed by a roll (loop) and a right turn that placed the aircraft perpendicular to the runway. During the final sequence, the aircraft began a left bank that transitioned into inverted flight. As the aircraft moved into this inverted position, it pitched downward and descended in a nearly vertical trajectory, impacting the ground between the runway and the aircraft parking apron. The high-velocity impact created a crater approximately 1.5 meters deep and triggered a fire that destroyed the aircraft.
The investigation
Investigators examined the wreckage, witness testimonies, and a 20-second video recording of the final moments of the flight. While the impact and subsequent fire heavily damaged the airframe, investigators found no evidence of mechanical failure or engine malfunction. Maintenance records indicated the aircraft was airworthy and had been properly maintained.
Witnesses noted that while the pilot was experienced in other models of the same type, this was the first time the crew had operated this specific aircraft. Video analysis revealed that the elevator position was set to an upward angle (pitching the nose up in normal flight), which would cause the aircraft to nose-down while in an inverted position. Although there was speculation that the crew might not have been using safety harnesses, recovered seatbelts were found securely buckled.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the execution of an aerobatic maneuver with insufficient altitude margin.
- The pilot had limited experience specifically with this aircraft model, having only approximately 30 hours of flight time in similar reconstructed versions.
- The pilot's attempt to compensate for the loss of vertical lift during the roll likely led to the nose-down attitude in inverted flight.
- There were no mechanical or technical deficiencies found in the aircraft or its systems.
- The weather conditions were appropriate for visual flight operations.