What happened
On May 30, 2006, an Air Tractor AT-802, registration EC-GOS, was performing a positioning flight from Utrera to Ibiza to join an aerial firefighting campaign. During the flight, the aircraft encountered a region of extremely severe thunderstorms characterized by heavy rain, low cloud ceilings that obscured mountain ridges, and intense wind gusts.
As the aircraft moved through the storm cells, it experienced significant aerodynamic loads. The aircraft's structural integrity failed in flight, leading to the separation of several components, including the horizontal stabilizers, vertical stabilizers, and parts of the rear fuselage. The aircraft subsequently impacted the terrain at a steep slope in the vicinity of Fuente Higuera. The impact was direct with no significant sliding, and a post-crash fire occurred, though it was quickly suppressed by heavy rainfall. The pilot was killed in the accident.
The investigation
The CIAIAC investigation examined the wreckage, which was found in a difficult-to-access mountainous area. Investigators analyzed the distribution of debris, noting that the engine, fuel tank, and cockpit remained together, while control surfaces and tail components were scattered within a 300-meter radius.
Technical analysis of the recovered parts, including the propeller blades, revealed that the engine was producing power at the moment of impact. The investigation also reviewed maintenance records, which showed the aircraft had recently undergone a 1,000-hour inspection and was in a valid state of airworthiness. Meteorological data from the National Institute of Meteorology and witness testimonies were used to reconstruct the weather conditions and the aircraft's final maneuvers.