Air Tractor AT-301 EC-IOL Accident in Isla Mayor, Spain

Overview and Flight Details On 7 June 2016, an Air Tractor AT-301 with registration EC-IOL, owned and operated by ADEFA, was conducting agricultural rice-seeding operations in the municipality of Isla Mayor, Sevilla, Spain. The accident occurred at 07:25 local time at Finca Cestero, an area of flooded rice paddies divided by dirt tracks used for takeoff and landing. ## Accident Sequence During the first landing of the day, the aircraft was on final approach with an easterly heading. According to the pilot's account, upon touchdown, the rear of the aircraft made a rapid movement to the right, causing the airplane to deviate completely to that side. The aircraft reached the edge of the paddy, its landing gear entered the water, and it subsequently cartwheeled and overturned, coming to rest inverted with part of the cockpit submerged. ## Personnel and Injuries The sole person on board was the pilot, a 51-year-old holder of a commercial pilot license (CPL(A)) issued by Portugal. He had 6,720 total flight hours, including 3,049 hours on the type. The pilot opened the cockpit window before the aircraft cartwheeled, unbuckled his harness after the rollover, and evacuated the aircraft under his own power. He sustained serious injuries. ## Aircraft and Maintenance The Air Tractor AT-301, serial number 301-0652, was manufactured in 1986 and powered by a Pratt & Whitney R-1340-AN1 engine. At the time of the accident, the airframe had 6,604:19 flight hours and the engine 10,626:40 hours. The last maintenance check was performed on 3 March 2016 by a Part 145 maintenance organization. The aircraft sustained major damage, and no other damage was reported. ## Probable Cause The accident occurred because the pilot lost control of the aircraft upon landing on a narrow dirt track with little margin for maneuvering.