Factual Information
On July 14, 2006, at 12:16 local time, a Cessna 172N, registration EC-HQR, operated by Aerotec, crashed in a flat farming area between the neighborhoods of La Esperanza and Llano del Moro in El Rosario, Tenerife. The aircraft was conducting a training flight with an instructor and two students, who were all deceased in the accident. The flight had departed from Tenerife Norte Airport (also known as Los Rodeos) 5 minutes and 7 seconds prior.
Accident Sequence
The flight was operating under Special VFR rules. The accident occurred as the aircraft exited a cloud-covered area into clear skies with good visibility over mountainous terrain. Winds were strong from the north or northwest. The impact was vertical, with the nose down.
Investigation Findings
The investigation, conducted by the Spanish Civil Aviation Accident and Incident Investigation Commission (CIAIAC), was unable to determine the exact cause of the accident. Two possibilities were considered: an episode of spatial disorientation affecting the crew, or a loss of control in flight at low speed and altitude in an area where terrain and wind conditions could have favored downdrafts and turbulence on the lee side.
Safety Recommendations
A safety recommendation was issued to the Spanish General Directorate of Civil Aviation (DGAC) as a result of the investigation.