What happened
On July 7, 2005, at 09:45 local time, a PIPER PA-3mal-300, registration EC-GYY, departed from an improvised dirt runway in Villagonzalo, Badajoz, to perform agricultural spraying operations using water. The aircraft was carrying 300 liters of liquid in its hopper and approximately 150 liters of fuel.
During the initial climb, the pilot faced an obstacle in the form of a hill located along the flight path. The pilot had two options: fly over the hill or maneuver around it. The pilot chose to maintain the existing heading to fly directly over the obstacle. However, the aircraft failed to gain sufficient altitude to clear the terrain, resulting in a near-frontal impact with the wall of a livestock building located at the top of the hill. The impact caused significant damage to the building, including the death of several livestock animals, and the aircraft was destroyed. The pilot survived the crash but sustained a severe chest contusion.
The investigation
The investigation examined the aircraft's maintenance records, the pilot's experience, and the flight conditions. The aircraft, which had been converted from a PA-36-285 to a PA-36-300 model, had been flying more frequently in the months leading up to the accident. Investigators noted that while the aircraft's mechanical systems were functioning correctly, the engine logs had not been updated since April 2005.
Analysis of the wreckage showed that the aircraft struck the wall head-on without any evidence of evasive maneuvers. The impact was so forceful that the engine was torn from its mounts and moved to the opposite side of the structure. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's training, noting that while the pilot held a commercial license, they had only recently completed an agricultural flight course in 2005 and lacked significant experience in aerial spraying operations.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the lack of pilot proficiency, which prevented the pilot from properly assessing the situation and managing the aircraft's climb relative to the obstacle.
- The pilot's limited experience in specialized agricultural flight operations contributed to the inability to execute an appropriate maneuver to avoid the terrain.
- The pilot's decision to maintain the runway heading rather than maneuvering around the hill placed the aircraft on a collision course with the obstacle.
- The survival of the pilot was significantly aided by the proper use and excellent condition of the safety harness, which absorbed the energy of the deceleration.