What happened
On December 10, 2016, at approximately 08:35 UTC, an Extra EA 300/L, registration D-ESPN, was performing an aerobatic flight at the Casarrubios del Monte aerodrome in Toledo, Spain. After completing a series of maneuvers, the pilot began the approach for landing on runway 08. During the transition from the base leg to the final approach, the aircraft encountered a small bank of fog or clouds.
As the aircraft entered the cloud layer, the pilot lost visual references with the ground. The aircraft subsequently made contact with the terrain approximately 90 meters to the right of the taxiway, parallel to the active runway. The impact began with the tail skid, followed by the main landing gear, which collapsed upon hitting the ground. The propeller blades were fractured due to ground contact. Despite the significant damage to the aircraft, both occupants remained uninjured.
The investigation
The investigation examined the aircraft's flight path, meteorological data from nearby stations, and the pilot's technical experience. Investigators analyzed the ground tracks, which showed a trajectory that was initially aligned with the taxiway but deviated rightward after hitting a small terrain depression.
Meteorological records from Cuatro Vientos and Getafe confirmed the presence of fog and low clouds in the area, with high relative humidity. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's credentials, noting a high level of technical proficiency and significant flight experience in aerobatic maneuvers. The aircraft was found to be in a valid state of airworthiness with no mechanical malfunctions reported prior to the impact.
Findings
- The pilot encountered a bank of clouds that resulted in the loss of visual ground references.
- Sufficient external visual cues were available prior to the approach to allow the pilot to identify and avoid the cloud layer.
- The pilot continued the landing maneuver after entering the clouds, leading to an incorrect approach.
- The aircraft struck the ground in a level attitude with the nose up, causing the main landing gear to collapse.