What happened
On November 3, 2020, a Piper PA-34-200, registration EC-HCA, crashed into the Mediterranean Sea approximately 42 nautical miles from Reus Airport. The aircraft departed Ibiza (LEIB) at 17:14 UTC, operating under night visual flight rules (VFRN). While the flight began without incident, the pilot encountered increasing cloud cover during the transit to Reus (LERS).
Radar tracking showed that at 17:48 UTC, the aircraft began an ascent to 7,600 feet in an attempt to clear the clouds. However, the flight path became increasingly erratic, with frequent changes in both altitude and heading. By 17:55 UTC, the aircraft entered a steep, high-speed spiral descent, with a bank angle reaching approximately 78 degrees. The aircraft disappeared from radar at 17:55:45 UTC. The wreckage was later recovered from the seabed at a depth of 113 meters.
The investigation
The CIAIAC investigation examined the flight planning, meteorological conditions, and the aircraft's final trajectory. Investigators analyzed radar data from ENAIRE, which indicated that the aircraft's descent was consistent with a loss of control. The wreckage analysis showed that the aircraft struck the water in an inverted position, with the vertical stabilizer having detached due to extreme structural forces.
Investigators also reviewed the pilot's experience and the flight's operational history. The pilot was qualified for night VFR operations, but had very limited experience in this specific aircraft type and very few hours of night flight experience. The investigation also noted that the flight plan had been initially rejected by the AIS/ARO office because it was filed as VFR during sunset, prompting the pilot to clarify their night VFR qualification.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the lack of adherence to night VFR rules, which led to the pilot experiencing spatial disorientation and subsequent loss of aircraft control.
- The pilot attempted to avoid clouds by changing altitude, but the deteriorating visibility led to a loss of visual references.
- Flight planning was either omitted or performed with an erroneous assessment of the meteorological conditions.
- The pilot's decision-making was influenced by internal and external pressures, including the presence of passengers and a persistent intention to complete the flight despite the weather.
- The pilot overestimated their ability to manage the flight conditions based on their night VFR rating.
- Although the aircraft was equipped for instrument flight, the crew was not instrument-rated.