What happened
On August 25, 2022, at 12:26 local time, a Piper PA-34-200, registration EC-IHS, operated by Air Pull Aviation, was performing a flight test for a commercial pilot license and multi-engine rating at the Requena aerodrome (LERE) in Valencia, Spain. The flight involved a student pilot and an examiner.
During the final stages of the flight, the crew performed a series of four landing attempts. On the fourth attempt, the aircraft approached the runway with excessive speed and a tailwind component. The aircraft touched down in the final third of the runway, leaving insufficient distance to decelerate. As the aircraft reached the end of the paved surface, it overran the runway, impacting a wire fence and several trees located beyond the threshold. The aircraft sustained significant damage, but both the student and the examiner were uninjured.
The investigation
The CIAIAC investigation examined radar tracks, video footage, and statements from the crew. The investigation revealed that the flight plan had been changed shortly before departure due to expected high traffic in Valencia, leading to a rushed preparation period.
Investigators analyzed the landing sequence and found that the crew had selected the wrong runway, which resulted in operating with a tailwind. The investigation also noted that the examiner intervened in the flight controls on several occasions during the approach and landing phases. Furthermore, the investigation established that the student's decision-making regarding the touchdown point—intending to execute a go-around if contact was not made within the first third of the runway—was not aligned with the examiner's decision to continue the landing despite the high speed and late touchdown.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was performing the landing with excessive speed after having passed the first third of the runway.
- The crew incorrectly selected a runway that resulted in a tailwind component.
- The examiner's decision to continue the landing attempt contributed to the outcome.
- There was a lack of effective coordination between the student and the examiner during the landing phase.
- The presence of the tailwind was not properly detected by the crew, as the windsock was visible and indicating the wind direction.