Accident Overview
On 20 July 2016 at 09:08 local time, a Piper PA-36-375, registration EC-EBQ, suffered an accident while performing agricultural treatment work near Isla Mayor, Seville, Spain. The aircraft impacted power lines during a turning maneuver and subsequently crashed into a rice field.
Aircraft and Pilot Information
The aircraft, a single-engine Piper PA-36-375 powered by a Lycoming IO-720-D1CD engine with a three-blade propeller and tailwheel configuration, was manufactured in 1978 with serial number 36-7802031. Its maximum takeoff weight was 2,175 kg. The airframe and engine had accumulated 4,537 flight hours. The last 50-hour maintenance inspection was performed on 16 July 2016 at 4,536 hours. The airworthiness certificate, issued on 21 April 2005, was valid until 28 April 2017.
The pilot, a 43-year-old Spanish male, held an ATPL license issued by the Portuguese ANAC with a single-engine piston (SEP) rating valid until 30 November 2016 and an agricultural/forestry endorsement valid until 31 May 2018. His medical certificate was valid until 16 November 2016. He had 3,539 total flight hours, most on the accident aircraft type.
Meteorological Conditions
No direct weather data were available at the accident site. Data from an automatic station at Las Cabezas de San Juan, approximately 20 km southeast, indicated the following conditions around the time of the accident: wind from 120° at about 34 km/h with gusts up to 48 km/h, good visibility, clear skies, temperature around 27°C, QNH 1015 hPa, relative humidity 58%. No precipitation or adverse weather warnings were in effect.
Accident Sequence
The flight departed from La Abundancia airstrip, a natural-surface runway (designation 04-22, 820 m long by 10 m wide, elevation at sea level) located in Isla Mayor. The mission involved spreading fertilizer over a rice plantation. During a turn to align for another fertilizer pass, the aircraft contacted overhead electric cables. The cables broke, causing a rupture in the leading edge of the left wing. Following the wing damage, the aircraft entered a spin-like descent and impacted the rice field.
Damage and Aftermath
The pilot sustained serious injuries. The aircraft incurred substantial damage. The power line breakage interrupted electricity supply for 2 hours and 15 minutes to the towns of Isla Mayor, Almensilla, Aznalcázar, Coria del Río, and La Puebla del Río. The cereal crop parcel where the aircraft came to rest was also damaged.
Probable Cause
The investigation determined that the cause of the accident was maneuvering at an inadequate altitude, which led to the aircraft striking a power line. The power line severed part of the left wing, causing the aircraft to impact the ground.