What happened
On March 6, 2020, a Piper PA-18-150 Super Cub, registration EC-ERA, was engaged in a private flight at the Casarrubios del Monte aerodrome in Toledo, Spain. The pilot, a professional aerobatic instructor with over 13,000 flight hours, intended to practice short-field takeoffs and landings, specifically utilizing the unpaved area north of the runway to land directly into the prevailing strong winds.
During the fifth landing attempt of the flight, the aircraft approached the ground with a ground speed estimated at only 10 knots due to the significant headwind. While the aircraft was on its landing roll, a strong gust of wind lifted the right wing. Facing an embankment less than 50 meters ahead, the pilot instinctively applied full power and used the left rudder pedal to steer the aircraft parallel to the runway to avoid the obstacle. This corrective action increased the crosswind component, causing the left wing to strike the ground and initiating a pivot. The aircraft subsequently struck the propeller against the terrain and eventually overturned, coming to rest in an inverted position.
The investigation
The CIAIAC investigation examined the aircraft's flight path, the meteorological conditions, and the pilot's maneuvers. Investigators analyzed ground markings, including propeller scars and debris from the tail navigation light, which helped reconstruct the sequence of the capsize. The investigation also reviewed the aircraft's maintenance history and the pilot's extensive professional background in aerobatic flight.
Findings
- The weather conditions at the time involved strong, gusty winds, with nearby stations reporting gusts exceeding 30 knots and variable directions.
- The pilot was performing landings on the terrain adjacent to the runway to maintain a headwind component, which significantly reduced the available landing distance to less than 200 meters due to the nearby embankment.
- The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the engine, propeller, wings, tail, and fuselage.
- The loss of control during the landing roll with limited available distance was the primary cause of the accident.