What happened
On July 10, 2005, at approximately 13:50 local time, a Cessna 206 (registration EC-EHK) crashed near the Monflorite Aerodrome in Huesca, Spain. The aircraft was conducting a non-commercial skydiving operation involving five passengers.
During the flight, while at an altitude of approximately 3,400 meters, the skydiver acting as a camera operator was positioning himself at the aircraft door to prepare for a formation jump. During this maneuver, the skydiver was suddenly thrown toward the rear of the aircraft. Following this event, the aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent, losing its entire tail assembly in flight. The aircraft struck the ground approximately 1 km south of the aerodrome, resulting in the death of the pilot and the total destruction of the aircraft. The four remaining passengers managed to exit the aircraft during the descent and sustained no injuries, while the camera operator survived with minor injuries.
The investigation
The CIAIAC investigation focused on the sequence of events leading to the structural failure of the aircraft. Investigators examined radar data, which showed a significant increase in airspeed—from 89 knots to 172 knots in just nine seconds—consistent with a high-speed dive following structural failure.
Evidence from the wreckage, including the location of the horizontal and vertical stabilizers, indicated that the tail assembly had detached during flight. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's credentials and the aircraft's airworthiness certificate. It was discovered that the pilot's authorization to fly aircraft with a maximum takeoff weight exceeding 1,500 kg had expired four years prior. Furthermore, the aircraft's airworthiness certificate specifically restricted operations to visual flight rules (VFR) and did not authorize skydiving operations.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the accidental deployment of the camera operator's emergency parachute during the exit maneuver.
- The deployment was likely caused by the emergency parachute release handle snagging on the aircraft door frame, potentially due to an improperly adjusted harness or the skydiver's proximity to the door.
- The impact of the skydiver against the right horizontal stabilizer caused the structural failure and subsequent detachment of the tail assembly.
- The aircraft was operating without the necessary pilot qualifications for its weight class.
- The aircraft's airworthiness certificate did not permit the skydiving activities being performed.
- There was a lack of standardized procedures regarding exit maneuvers and aircraft configuration (such as airspeed) for skydivers using this specific aircraft model.