What happened
On May 25, 2012, a Menestrel-II amateur-built aircraft, registration EC-YSF, was performing a test flight at the La Axarquía-Leoni Benabú aerodrome in Vélez-Málaga. The pilot, the aircraft's owner, intended to conduct a series of takeoffs and landings to verify recent repairs following a previous runway excursion.
During the takeoff roll on runway 12, the pilot reported experiencing a sudden loss of consciousness. While the aircraft continued to accelerate down the runway, it lifted off after covering approximately one-third of the runway length. The aircraft climbed at an excessively high angle of attack, reaching an altitude of roughly 20 to 30 meters. During this ascent, the aircraft experienced a heavy left wing dip, followed by a rapid descent and impact with the ground. The wreckage came to rest approximately 150 meters from the runway centerline.
The investigation
The CIAIAC investigation utilized witness statements and mobile phone video footage captured by a bystander to reconstruct the flight path. The video analysis confirmed that the aircraft departed with a high angle of attack and relatively low airspeed. The footage showed the aircraft maintaining a nose-high attitude for approximately 150 meters before entering a stall and rolling heavily to the left.
Investigators noted that there was no visible evidence of the pilot attempting to lower the nose or recover control of the aircraft once it was airborne. The investigation also examined the aircraft's condition, noting that the engine, Continental O-200-A, showed no signs of mechanical failure or explosion according to witnesses. The aircraft had recently undergone repairs to its braking system.
Findings
- The aircraft took off with an excessive angle of attack, likely due to the pitch trim being set in a nose-high position.
- The aircraft's climb resulted in a progressive increase in the angle of attack until it reached the critical angle for a stall.
- The pilot suffered serious injuries, including significant trauma to the head, chest, and right arm, while a passenger remained uninjured.
- The primary cause of the accident was the loss of aircraft control during takeoff due to the pilot's reported loss of consciousness during the ground roll.