Two fatalities in night training flight accident near Níjar

Casualties unknown • Sierra del Cabo de Gata (Almería), ES

A Diamond DA20-C1 aircraft crashed in Almería, Spain, during a night visual flight training mission, resulting in the deaths of both the instructor and student pilot.

What happened

On 10 October 2023, at approximately 20:00 UTC, a DIAMOND DA20-C1, registration EC-KUX, crashed in the municipality of Níjar, Almería, during a night visual flight rules (VFRN) training mission. The aircraft, operated by One Air, was performing a multi-stage flight intended to meet requirements for a visual night flight rating. The flight crew, consisting of an instructor and a student pilot, departed from Almería airport (LEAM) for the final leg of the mission toward Valencia (LEVC).

During the flight, the aircraft followed the coastline near San José. The investigation established that the aircraft's altitude decreased from 1500 ft to approximately 1300 ft during this period. The aircraft eventually impacted the terrain at Cerro del Fraile. Both occupants of the aircraft were deceased.

The investigation

The CIAIAC examined the flight planning, the aircraft's technical systems, and the operational procedures of the Approved Training Organisation (ATO). The investigation reviewed the flight tracks, the use of navigation aids, and the performance of the aircraft's Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT). The investigators also analyzed the safety management system (SMS) of the operator and the effectiveness of the search and rescue (SAR) activation process.

Findings

  • The flight crew failed to follow the established operational flight plan, instead relying on external visual references for navigation.
  • There was a significant lack of flight discipline regarding navigation and altitude maintenance during the night phase.
  • The operator's safety management system was found to be immature, with a low volume of safety occurrence reports and insufficient oversight of instructor performance.
  • Internal audits failed to detect existing operational deficiencies within the ATO.
  • The investigation identified delays and management errors in the activation of search and rescue assets following the accident.

Probable cause

The accident was caused by a lack of flight discipline and failure to follow the planned flight route, compounded by a reliance on visual references during night operations which led to uncontrolled descent into terrain.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2023-10-10 DIAMOND modelo DA20-C1 accident near Sierra del Cabo de Gata (Almería), ES?

A Diamond DA20-C1 aircraft crashed in Almería, Spain, during a night visual flight training mission, resulting in the deaths of both the instructor and student pilot.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2023-10-10 involved a DIAMOND modelo DA20-C1, registration EC-KUX, at Sierra del Cabo de Gata (Almería), ES.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The accident was caused by a lack of flight discipline and failure to follow the planned flight route, compounded by a reliance on visual references during night operations which led to uncontrolled descent into terrain.

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