Piper PA-32-300 Runway Excursion at Casas de Los Pinos (EC-DHL)

Accident Overview and Aircraft Details On 14 May 2022, a Piper PA-32-300 with registration EC-DHL, operated by Aeroclub Skydive Ontur, suffered a runway excursion during landing at Casas de Los Pinos aerodrome (LEPI) in Cuenca. The aircraft, a 1979-built low-wing, single-engine tricycle-gear model powered by a 300 CV Lycoming IO-540K1G5, was conducting a non-commercial parachute drop operation under visual flight rules. The pilot, a 31-year-old commercial pilot with 239 total flight hours and 13 hours on type, was the sole occupant and was uninjured. The aircraft sustained major damage to the lower fuselage, wings, propeller, and landing gear, and the aerodrome's perimeter fence was also damaged. ## Operational Sequence and Contributing Factors The pilot had completed ten prior parachute drop flights on runway 12 without incident. For the final flight, the aircraft departed at approximately 16:30 local time into a 12 kt headwind and climbed to 11,000 ft over 25 minutes, carrying four passengers for two tandem jumps. Turbulence was encountered during the climb above 5,000 ft and again during the 10-minute descent at 130 kt and 1,500 ft/min. The pilot configured the aircraft with two notches of flaps and adjusted speed to 80 kt for the final approach. The pilot reported that the windsock indicated crosswind, causing the aircraft to drift left, and that touchdown occurred near the midpoint of the runway at approximately 60 kt with both main gear wheels, resulting in a 'balloon' effect. After a brief roll, the pilot applied full brakes due to excessive speed but the aircraft overran the runway end, struck the perimeter fence, crossed a road, and came to a stop. The pilot shut down the engine and exited via the left rear door. Witnesses at the aerodrome reported that the windsock indicated tailwind during the landing. The investigation identified the incorrect landing technique, with touchdown in the last third of the runway, as the probable cause, and the final approach conducted with tailwind as a contributing factor.