Accident Overview
On 25 July 2002, at approximately 10:45 local time, a Piper PA-36-375 (registration EC-CUX) was engaged in aerial fumigation of orange groves when it collided with a power line cable near kilometer 14 of highway N-234 in the municipality of Torres-Torres, province of Valencia. The aircraft subsequently crashed into the ground.
Aircraft and Pilot Information
The aircraft, manufactured in 1976, was a single-engine Piper PA-36-375 powered by a Lycoming IO-720-D1CD engine. The pilot, a 34-year-old commercial pilot with a total of 2,250 flight hours, was the sole occupant. The aircraft was operating under general aviation commercial rules for aerial application.
Sequence of Events
The aircraft had been performing fumigation flights of approximately 15 minutes each. Prior to the accident flight, the pilot had completed 10 to 12 earlier flights that morning. The accident occurred late in the flight, when the aircraft struck a power line cable. After impact, the aircraft fell to the ground about 2 kilometers from the temporary airstrip at Torres-Torres from which it operated.
Damage and Consequences
The aircraft sustained substantial damage to its engine and structure. The power line cable was severed, which caused a fire on the ground near the cable and a traffic accident on highway N-234 involving several vehicles. The pilot exited the aircraft unaided and was transported by ambulance to Sagunto General Hospital, where he was diagnosed with minor bruises and released the following day.
Investigation Findings
The investigation concluded that the most probable cause of the accident was that the pilot did not notice the presence of the power line.
Probable Cause
The pilot did not notice the presence of the power line.