What happened
On 8 August 2003, a Robin ATL «Club», registration F-GFNB, crashed into the sea near the Rinlo coastline in the province of Lugo, Spain. The flight, a private pleasure trip, departed from Villaframel-Ribadeo aerodrome (LEVF) shortly after 12:30 h, destined for Santiago airport (LEST).
At the time of departure, the area was experiencing heavy fog at low altitudes, particularly over the sea, which reduced horizontal visibility to between 200 and 300 meters. During the initial climb after takeoff from runway 08, the aircraft turned toward the sea, entering the area of thickest fog. Witnesses noted that the engine noise remained steady and continuous until the moment of impact, suggesting no immediate mechanical failure. However, a change in engine noise was later observed by witnesses, which indicated the pilot may have attempted a turn to return to the aerodrome.
The aircraft struck the sea surface approximately 300 to 400 meters from the coastline. The impact resulted in the two fatalities of the pilot and the passenger. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact, and while some wreckage and the occupants were recovered, much of the airframe sank into the deep waters of the Atlantic.
The investigation
The CIAIAC investigation focused on the flight conditions and the pilot's maneuvers during the climb. Investigators examined the meteorological data, which confirmed the presence of heavy fog, and reviewed the pilot's experience, noting he had approximately 120 total flight hours, with only about 30 hours of solo flight time.
Technical analysis of the wreckage, specifically the breakage of the left wingtip, indicated that the left side of the aircraft impacted the water first, consistent with a left-hand turn. The investigation also considered the aircraft's configuration, noting it lacked an attitude indicator, which is a critical instrument for preventing spatial disorientation in low-visibility conditions. The investigation also evaluated the aircraft's performance, considering the impact of the aircraft's weight and available engine power on the climb gradient.
Findings
- The pilot was qualified for the flight type but possessed limited flight experience, particularly regarding solo operations.
- The aircraft was airworthy and had undergone all required maintenance inspections.
- Heavy fog significantly reduced visibility to less than 300 meters, particularly over the sea.
- The aircraft entered a left turn toward the sea during the initial climb, likely attempting to climb through the fog or return to the aerodrome.
- The aircraft likely entered a stall during this maneuver due to the pilot's inability to maintain safe airspeed while managing the climb gradient and potential spatial disorientation.
- The absence of an attitude indicator on board contributed to the pilot's inability to maintain visual references during the fog encounter.