What happened
On June 13, 2004, an Interavia I-3, registration EC-HLX, was participating in an aerial exhibition at the Los Giles model aircraft track in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. The flight was part of the Second Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Model Aircraft Meeting, which featured various aircraft, including military jets. The flight was conducted under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) for a local demonstration.
During the flight, the crew attempted a loop maneuver. The aircraft approached the vertical of runway 03 at high speed and low altitude, following a pass over the runway. While the initial phase of the loop was executed correctly, the aircraft failed to complete the recovery phase. As the aircraft reached a nearly horizontal attitude, it was still descending due to inertia. The tailwheel made initial contact with the ground, followed by the main landing gear, causing the aircraft to strike the terrain and be destroyed.
The investigation
Investigators analyzed video footage from spectators and television broadcasts, as well as radar data and witness statements. The investigation established that the aircraft was in good mechanical condition, with all maintenance and airworthiness certificates up to date. The crew consisted of two experienced pilots, both holding valid Private Pilot Licenses (P/PPL) with the necessary ratings for aerobatic flight.
Analysis of the video footage suggested that a slight rightward deviation occurred during the first half of the loop. Investigators hypothesized that the pilot, noticing this deviation at the top of the maneuver, may have attempted to correct the flight path to exit the loop precisely over the starting point. This attempt to perfect the maneuver likely resulted in a prolonged descent.
Findings
- The aircraft was unable to complete the recovery from a loop maneuver.
- The two fatalities occurred when the aircraft struck the ground during the final stage of the aerobatic sequence.
- The pilot likely experienced an inadequate estimation of the actual altitude during the recovery phase.
- The visual environment, specifically the scale of the model aircraft runway markings, may have contributed to a false perception of height during the high-acceleration descent.
- There was no evidence of engine failure or mechanical malfunction prior to the impact.