What happened
On September 18, 2024, at 08:15 UTC, a TECNAM P2008 JC, registration EC-OJB, crashed in the municipality of Abia de las Torres, Palencia, during a dual-instruction flight. The aircraft had departed from Burgos airport at 07:40 UTC for a navigation training mission intended to return to the same airfield.
As the flight progressed past Melgar de Fernamental, the aircraft's actual path deviated from the planned route. Flight data indicates the aircraft performed several erratic maneuvers, beginning with an aggressive 360-degree left turn. This was followed by a severe descent lasting 20 seconds, during which the aircraft lost 1,150 feet at a descent rate of -3,450 feet per minute. This maneuver included a 10.1-second left spiral dive with a bank angle of 62 degrees and a load factor of 2.1.
Following this, the aircraft continued to descend at a rate of -1,618 feet per minute, shifting its heading significantly to the left. A subsequent 31-second descent lost an additional 725 feet, bringing the aircraft to an altitude of 2,650 feet, which was approximately level with the terrain elevation in the area. From that point until impact, the flight path was characterized by a zigzag pattern and continuous altitude adjustments to follow the terrain. The aircraft eventually struck the ground, resulting in the destruction of the aircraft, one fatality (the instructor), and one serious injury (the student pilot). No emergency communications or transponder changes were recorded prior to the crash.
The investigation
The CIAIAC investigation is currently in its final stages and is examining the wreckage and ground impact marks, available testimonies, and the performance of emergency rescue services. The scope of the inquiry also includes the analysis of the flight plan, previous flight records, the operations of the Approved Training Organization (ATO), and the effectiveness of the ATO's safety management system.