What happened
On 23 June 2009, a VULCAN AIR P-68 OBSERVER II, registration EC-IPG, crashed near Sant Pere de Vilamajor, Barcelona, during a flight intended for a Class Rating Instructor (CRI) skill test. The aircraft had departed from Sabadelle airport for a local flight. While flying at a low altitude, the aircraft entered a nose-down attitude and plummeted into a private property. Witnesses reported hearing the engines stop before seeing the aircraft spin toward the ground. The cockpit impacted the ground first, followed by a fire that destroyed the aircraft and damaged nearby structures. Both the instructor and the pilot being tested sustained two fatalities.
The investigation
The CIAIAC investigation examined the aircraft's wreckage, engine components, and flight parameters. Investigators analyzed the fuel system, finding that the right engine's fuel valve was in the cutoff position. Examination of the propellers indicated they were at minimum pitch, and the throttles were near the idle position. The investigation also reviewed the flight's operational context, including the pilot's experience, the altitude of the maneuver, and the cockpit dynamics between the two highly experienced crew members.