Event
On 29 June 2000, at 08:20 local time, a Piper PA-25-235 aircraft, registration EC-AZJ, was conducting the first flight of the day for crop-dusting operations. The flight was from a temporary airstrip located in the municipality of Cantalapiedra, province of Salamanca, Spain. During the takeoff roll, near the end of the runway, the pilot performed an emergency release of the chemical load. The aircraft became airborne but its landing gear struck the edge of a road that ran perpendicular to the runway end. The road edge was approximately one meter above the airstrip surface. The landing gear was torn off and remained at the road edge. The aircraft also sustained impact damage to the right flap area. The pilot then flew the aircraft to the Matilla aerodrome in Tordesillas, province of Valladolid, where he performed a landing without landing gear. The pilot was uninjured.
Aircraft and Pilot
The aircraft was a Piper PA-25-235, manufactured in 1965, with a single Lycoming O-540-B2B5 engine. The pilot, 29 years old, held a commercial pilot license. Total flight hours were not recorded. The aircraft was operating in the category of general aviation, commercial, aerial applications.
Investigation Findings
According to the pilot's statement, the takeoff field was a harvested barley field with a hard surface and stubble approximately 15 centimeters high. The field elevation was about 900 to 1000 meters, and its length was about 500 meters. Weather conditions were calm wind, temperature about 18–20°C, and high humidity. The pilot performed a warm-up with the aircraft stationary, as it was the first flight of the day. The aircraft was loaded with approximately 300 liters of chemical, considered a medium load. After engine checks, the pilot began the takeoff roll. Midway, the aircraft had not raised its tail, so the pilot applied flaps. When the tail still did not rise, at a point designated as 'A' in the investigation sketch, the pilot performed an emergency dump. The aircraft then became airborne but hit the road edge at point 'B', breaking the landing gear. The pilot flew over a mechanic at point 'D' and signaled his intention to divert to Matilla aerodrome, as he had realized the landing gear was missing and that Matilla had a wider and longer runway. During the flight to Matilla, the pilot monitored engine instruments, especially temperature and oil pressure, which remained within normal ranges. He also trimmed the aircraft to compensate for a tendency to drift right due to damage to the right wing flap area. Upon arrival at Matilla, Guardia Civil, an ambulance, and firefighters were waiting, having been alerted by the mechanic. The pilot made a low-speed approach and touched down in about 15 meters. Before landing, he shut off the fuel valve, pulled all breakers, and cut the master switch and magnetos.
Conclusions
The accident investigation concluded that the most probable cause was that the aircraft did not reach sufficient speed to raise its tail. When the load was dumped, the aircraft became airborne because it had enough lift for the new weight. Contributing factors, in order, were the presence of cut barley stubble, the airstrip elevation, and the above-standard temperature. Although the aircraft was carrying half its maximum load (300 liters out of a possible 568 liters), the runway length was insufficient under those conditions.