What happened
On April 18, 2006, at approximately 12:20 local time, two aircraft operated by American Flyers España collided in the traffic pattern of the Casarrubzkod del Monte Aerodrome in Toledo, Spain. The aircraft involved were a Cessna 172-M, registration EC-HAS, and a Cessna 172-R, registration EC-IYF.
The collision occurred during the first third of the downwind leg of the traffic pattern. The impact caused significant damage to the outer portion of the right wing of the Cessna 172-M, rendering the aircraft uncontrollable. The Cessna 172-M plunged into the ground, resulting in 2 fatalities for the crew (an instructor and a student pilot).
The Cessna 172-R remained airborne following the impact but was forced to perform an emergency landing in a nearby field. During the landing on the uneven terrain, the nose gear detached, causing the aircraft to overturn and land upside down. The two occupants of the Cessna 172-R were uninjured and able to exit the aircraft on their own.
The investigation
The CIAIAC investigation focused on the flight paths and the high density of traffic in the circuit at the time of the accident. Investigators examined the damage to both airframes and reviewed pilot statements and radio communications.
It was established that the traffic pattern was highly congested, with between five and seven aircraft present simultaneously. This high volume of traffic, consisting of various types including ultralights and helicopters, created a challenging environment for maintaining visual separation. The investigation also noted that radio communications were saturated, which prevented the crew of the Cessna 172-R from announcing their position on the crosswind leg.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was a loss of situational awareness by the crew of the EC-HAS, which led them to lose sight of their preceding aircraft and mistakenly identify a different aircraft in the circuit as their lead.
- The high number of aircraft in the traffic pattern (5 to 7) acted as a contributing factor, as the constant entry and exit of various aircraft made it difficult to identify the preceding plane.
- Communication congestion hindered the ability of pilots to effectively coordinate positions.
- The trajectories of the two aircraft were convergent at the moment of impact, with the EC-HAS likely positioned below and behind the EC-IYF.