Flight History
On 27 July 2000, a Piper PA 38-112, registration EC-DGV, departed from Casarrubios del Monte Aerodrome (Toledo) at approximately 14:00 local time for a VFR navigation training flight. The crew consisted of a flight instructor and a student pilot. The flight was conducted under visual meteorological conditions, and the aircraft had full fuel endurance.
Accident Sequence
The planned route included waypoints at El Tiétar (La Iglesuela), Navalcán, Ermita del Milagro, and Navas del Marqués. At some point, the aircraft deviated from the planned route while the crew was searching for an unspecified reference. Witnesses in another aircraft from the same company, which was accompanying the accident aircraft, observed it perform a left turn. After the turn, they attempted radio contact without response. When they turned back, they saw the aircraft on the ground and declared an emergency.
The aircraft impacted a slope with an average inclination of 30 to 40 degrees, covered with sparse vegetation. No fire occurred. The aircraft was completely destroyed, and both occupants were killed.
Aircraft and Crew Information
The aircraft was a Piper PA 38-112, with registration EC-DGV. The instructor and the student pilot were the only occupants. No anomalies were reported during the flight prior to the accident.
Meteorological Conditions
The report mentions possible thermal gusts common in mountainous areas during summer, which may have affected the flight, but no specific meteorological data from the time and location are provided in the factual section.
Wreckage and Impact
Impact occurred against a slope with sparse vegetation. The wreckage was examined by investigators. Photographs and diagrams are included in the appendices of the original report.
Investigation Findings
The investigation determined that the most probable cause was the aircraft stalling and entering a spin during a left turn at an altitude insufficient for recovery. The stall may have resulted from crew distraction while locating a ground reference, possibly combined with the effects of thermal gusts at low altitude in mountainous terrain.