Summary
On 15 October 2013, a Cessna 152 (registration G-BMJC) operated by the Aeroclub de Alicante was involved in an accident during a local training flight at Muchamiel Aerodrome in Alicante, Spain. The aircraft struck a power line pole while on approach to runway 30 and subsequently crashed nose-first into the ground. The pilot, the sole occupant, was seriously injured and the aircraft was destroyed.
Detailed Account
The pilot was conducting a local training flight consisting of multiple takeoffs and landings. After two landings on runway 12, the flight leader changed the landing configuration due to changes in wind conditions. The pilot then performed a third landing on runway 30. During the subsequent approach to runway 30, the aircraft collided with a power line pole located 600 meters from the threshold, beyond the AP-7 motorway and the CV-819 regional road.
The pilot stated that upon seeing the power lines, he decided to hit the pole rather than the wires, believing that contact with the wires could cause electrocution. The landing gear caught the cables, slowing the aircraft and altering its trajectory, causing it to impact the ground nose-first.
Injuries and Damage
The pilot suffered serious injuries and was hospitalized in an intensive care unit for over a month. The aircraft sustained extensive damage, including detachment of the wing strut from the cabin roof, separation of the engine and propeller, and destruction of the cabin. The aircraft was considered destroyed. The power pole was deformed at an angle of 120 degrees, and the wires became entangled, but none were severed by the impact.
Aircraft and Pilot Information
The Cessna 152 (serial number 152-84989) held a valid airworthiness certificate issued on 9 August 2012. The pilot held a private pilot license issued by the UK CAA on 14 July 2008, with a single-engine piston land rating valid until 30 June 2014. The pilot had logged 146 flight hours, primarily on Cessna 150 and 152 models, and 640 cycles. A medical certificate was issued on 11 March 2013 with a limitation requiring corrective lenses for distant vision and a spare pair.