Flight Background
On 28 June 2008, a Cessna 172N, registration EC-IRP, departed from Son Bonet aerodrome in Mallorca at 12:01 LT. The flight was a leg of the 2008 Spanish Motor Flight Championship rally, from Son Bonet to San Luis aerodrome in Menorca. The aircraft carried three occupants: a pilot, a navigator, and a passenger. The flight was conducted under visual flight rules.
Accident Sequence
Approximately 17 minutes after departure, at around 12:17 LT, the aircraft descended sharply and impacted terrain in the municipality of Sa Pobla, Illes Balears. The aircraft had just overflown the intermediate waypoint TP01, about 2,000 meters after that point. The impact was severe, causing fuel from the right tank to spill and ignite, resulting in a post-crash fire.
Occupants and Injuries
All three occupants sustained fatal injuries from the impact. The investigation did not specify further medical details.
Investigation and Analysis
The investigation reviewed data from a GPS logger carried onboard. The records indicated fluctuations in airspeed and altitude during the final phases of the flight, suggesting possible changes in lift. The aircraft's weight and balance, flight configuration, and turn maneuvers were considered. Witness statements and examination of the wreckage were also part of the inquiry.
Probable Cause
The investigation determined that the most probable cause of the accident was a loss of lift under the conditions encountered in the final segment of the flight. Factors that may have contributed include the aircraft's weight, its configuration during the turn, changing wind conditions, and the pilot's confidence in the aircraft's performance.