What happened
On October 3, 2000, at approximately 19:00 local time, a PIPER PA-36-375, registration EC-EML, was conducting aerial application services near San Martin de Boniches, Cuenca. The aircraft was operating out of the Campillo de Paravientos airstrip, performing pine forest fumigation tasks.
During the second pass of the flight, the pilot was maneuvering along the terrain's contour lines on a mountainside. While executing a left-hand turn, the right wingtip struck a protruding rock formation. Following the impact, the aircraft descended down the slope and eventually crashed into the vegetation on the ground.
The investigation
The investigation relied on the pilot's statement to reconstruct the flight path and the sequence of the collision. The analysis focused on the aircraft's flight profile during the low-level maneuvering required for agricultural spraying and the spatial orientation of the pilot during the turn.
Findings
- The pilot sustained serious injuries during the accident.
- The investigation established that the pilot failed to perceive the presence of the rock formation.
- During the left-hand turn, the pilot's attention was likely focused on the area of the left wingtip, making it more difficult to detect an obstacle located on the right side of the aircraft.