What happened
On June 14, 2013, a privately operated Piper J-3 (registration EC-ZKS) departed from the La Axarquía-Leoni Benabú aerodrome in Vélez-Málaga, Spain, for a local flight. The pilot, who was traveling to participate in an airshow in Motril, was accompanied by one passenger.
While flying at approximately 1,000 feet over the sea near the Torre del Mar coast, the pilot attempted to test the aircraft's smoke system. During this process, the engine stopped unexpectedly. The pilot attempted to restart the engine by pumping the throttle and cycling the magnetos, but the engine failed to respond.
Faced with low altitude and being positioned over the sea, the pilot identified a flat area near the mouth of the Torrox River as a viable landing site. During the approach, the crew encountered an unexpected cable, forcing a sudden maneuver. The aircraft touched down on the field, but due to limited runway length, it could not stop before reaching the N-340 highway. The aircraft struck trees and a roadside embankment, resulting in substantial damage to the landing gear, wings, and elevator. Both occupants were uninjured.
The investigation
The CIAIAC investigation focused on the sequence of events leading to the engine failure and the pilot's subsequent emergency procedures. Investigators examined the cockpit layout, noting that the fuel selector valve and the smoke system activation switch are located in close physical proximity.
The investigation also reviewed the pilot's flight experience, noting that while the pilot held a commercial license, they had only 13 hours of flight time in this specific aircraft type. Furthermore, the investigation analyzed the engine failure checklist provided in the aircraft's flight manual to determine if the error could have been corrected during the descent.
Findings
- The engine failure was caused by the pilot inadvertently closing the fuel valve after confusing it with the smoke system switch.
- The proximity of the two controls facilitated the error, and the pilot's lack of familiarity with the aircraft's specific cockpit layout prevented them from recognizing the mistake via tactile feedback.
- The low altitude and the high-stress environment of the engine failure led to a rushed response, preventing the pilot from correctly executing the engine failure checklist, which would have identified the closed fuel valve.
- The pilot's limited experience with this specific aircraft type acted as a contributing factor to the accident.