What happened
On June 7, 2002, a Piper PA-28RT-201, registration EC-DKR, departed Agoncillo for a planned VFR flight to Montpellier, France. The aircraft was carrying two occupants. At 16:21 UTC, the pilot made the final radio contact with the Pamplona Tower, reporting a position 10 miles south of the airport.
At approximately 17:00 UTC, the aircraft struck a nearly vertical rock wall between the peaks of Petit Pessó and Pic de l’Estanyet at an altitude of roughly 9,000 feet. The impact occurred near the summit of the wall, and the aircraft was destroyed by the collision and a subsequent fire. The two occupants of the aircraft were killed. Search operations began on the evening of the accident, but the wreckage was not located until June 9, 2002, due to the difficult terrain and poor weather conditions.
The investigation
The investigation examined the wreckage, meteorological data, and the pilot's flight profile. Analysis of the propeller blades indicated that the engine was producing power at the moment of impact. The wreckage pattern suggested the aircraft struck the terrain in a level attitude and on a nearly horizontal trajectory.
Meteorological records showed that a warm front was affecting the area, resulting in overcast skies and light rain. While radar indicated that the clouds did not have significant vertical development, witnesses reported that the mountain ridges were obscured by clouds, with the cloud base estimated to be between 500 and 1,000 feet below the impact point.
Investigators also performed a performance reconstruction. Based on the aircraft's climb rate and a recorded tailwind, calculations suggested the aircraft was unable to reach the 10,500 feet required to safely clear the highest obstacles in the area. The investigation also considered the pilot's experience, noting that the pilot was highly skilled and intimately familiar with the Pyrenees region.
Findings
- The aircraft was operating under VFR flight rules but encountered insufficient visibility and cloud ceiling requirements.
- The aircraft entered cloud cover, leading to a loss of visual reference with the terrain.
- The aircraft's climb performance was insufficient to clear the high terrain in the area under the prevailing wind conditions.
- The pilot's extensive experience and familiarity with the area may have contributed to the decision to continue the flight through deteriorating conditions rather than diverting to an alternate aerodrome.