Background
The accident involved a Cessna 150 F, registration EC-GQD, owned and operated privately. On 13 November 2018, the pilot departed from Cuatro Vientos Airport (LECU) at 16:39 UTC en route to Requena Aerodrome (LERE). The flight was conducted under visual flight rules (VFR) with the pilot as the sole occupant.
Accident Details
During the flight, sunset occurred and the pilot continued toward the destination. At 18:04 UTC, the aircraft crashed into a cultivated field in the municipality of Cervera del Llano, Cuenca. The pilot died and the aircraft was destroyed.
Investigation Findings
The investigation determined that the accident was caused by the pilot's loss of visual reference of the terrain while conducting a VFR flight. This loss resulted from a failure to adhere to VFR procedures, particularly with respect to light conditions. The pilot had prepared the aircraft days earlier, including a pre-flight inspection, engine run, refueling, and flight plan filing on 1 November 2018.
Safety Recommendations
The report issued two safety recommendations: one to the Spanish Aviation Safety and Security Agency (AESA) to enhance preventive processing of data in VFR flight plans to minimize potential operational risks before acceptance; and another to ENAIRE, the air navigation service provider, to consider incorporating functionalities in future system developments that mitigate latent operational risks in VFR flight plans prior to acceptance.