Incident Overview
On Saturday, April 26, 2008, at approximately 12:50 local time, a private Cessna 172 RG with registration EC-FYP was involved in an accident near Vistabella del Maestrazgo, Castellón. The aircraft, powered by a single Lycoming O-360-A1F6 engine, departed from the Aeródromo de Castellón for a local flight with three people on board.
Flight Sequence and Impact
The pilot reported difficulty gaining altitude during the initial climb. The aircraft proceeded northwest to the Peñagolosa massif before heading to a 900-meter forest airstrip located five kilometers north of Vistabella del Maestrazgo. While overflying the runway at an approximate altitude of 300 feet above ground level, the pilot noted a south wind gust and a subsequent loss of altitude.
The aircraft struck a pine tree approximately 16 meters high, located 250 meters beyond the threshold of runway 12. The pilot attempted to recover by pulling back on the control yoke and advancing the throttle to maximum power. Despite these efforts, the aircraft impacted the ground 30 meters further along in a wooded area. Post-accident inspection revealed the propeller blades were twisted, indicating engine power was applied at the time of impact.
Investigation Findings
The investigation determined that the pilot lost situational awareness regarding the terrain profile. The runway had a 5% slope, and the terrain beyond the threshold rose to an elevation of 1,171 meters. By maintaining a constant altimeter reading while flying over rising ground, the aircraft actually lost 58 meters of height relative to the terrain over a distance of 1,150 meters. The pilot failed to perceive this loss of clearance until the tree obstacle was detected too late to execute a successful climb-out.
Outcome
The aircraft was destroyed, but all three occupants—the pilot and two passengers—sustained no injuries and evacuated the wreckage independently.