What happened
On July 16, 2018, a Cessna U206G, registration EC-JML, was performing a skydiving operation for Sky Dive South Canaria. After departing from the El Berriel aerodrome in San Bartolomé de Tirajana, Gran Canaria, the aircraft proceeded to the Maspalomas drop zone. Upon completing the jump operations, the pilot returned to El Berriel to land on runway 25.
During the landing roll, approximately halfway down the runway, the aircraft encountered a sudden lateral wind gust blowing from the Atlantic Ocean toward the mountains. This gust caused the aircraft to veer sideways off the runway and cross the safety area. The aircraft eventually came to a stop approximately 40 meters from the runway centerline. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, was uninjured.
The investigation
The investigation examined the pilot's experience, the aircraft's maintenance status, and the meteorological conditions at the time of the event. The pilot, a commercial pilot with significant experience in Cessna aircraft and specific training in wind shear, had verified that weather conditions were suitable for the flight prior to departure. No signs of wind shear or abnormal weather were observed by the pilot during the approach.
Technical examination of the aircraft revealed significant damage, including a broken nose landing gear, damaged propeller blades that rendered the engine inoperable, impact damage to the right wingtip, and damage to the lower fuselage. The investigation also reviewed local meteorological data, noting that while the general weather was not limiting for the flight, the geographical location of the aerodrome between the ocean and mountains makes lateral gusts a frequent occurrence.