Air Tractor AT-802 Runway Departure at Gergal Firefighting Base (EC-GGQ)

Accident Overview and Flight Details On Friday, 12 August 2005, at 12:30 local time, an Air Tractor AT-802 with registration EC-GGQ began its takeoff roll from runway 30 at the Gergal Firefighting Base in Almería, Spain. The aircraft was operated by Ángel Martínez Ridao. Tratamientos Aéreos and was partially loaded. The flight was the first of the day and was intended to move the aircraft to the Utrera base for a tire replacement. The operation was classified as general aviation, commercial, and firefighting. ## Sequence of Events During the takeoff roll, after the aircraft had traveled approximately 600 meters, the pilot reported a strong gust of wind from the left. The aircraft made a sharp turn to the left and left the runway. The pilot attempted to lift the aircraft, but the main landing gear struck the perimeter fence surrounding the base. The aircraft then crashed into a greenhouse located about 50 meters from the runway. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, while the pilot was uninjured and was able to leave the aircraft under his own power. ## Damage and Other Property Damage The main landing gear struck the perimeter fence, and the aircraft subsequently hit a greenhouse. The wreckage was concentrated, and the nose was turned 180 degrees from the takeoff direction. The tail was broken and positioned perpendicular to the fuselage on the left side, with no significant impact marks, suggesting it was likely cut by a metal cable from the greenhouse. The left wing lost most of its aileron and the entire flap, along with part of the wingtip. The right main landing gear leg was detached and found near the left leg. The fuselage had no significant deformation, and the propeller had no major impacts, but numerous metal cables became entangled around it, which slowed the aircraft and caused it to turn left. The aircraft also struck the galvanized iron structure supporting the greenhouse, tearing off the polyethylene covering and the steel cable framework. ## Pilot and Aircraft Information The pilot was a 54-year-old commercial airplane pilot with 4,200 total flight hours and 600 hours on the type. His flight license and medical certificate were valid. During the 2005 campaign, he had flown Dromader PZL and Air Tractor 802 aircraft. He had accumulated 25:16 hours in the Dromader PZL before August 2005. From the beginning of August, he had used Air Tractor 802 aircraft at the Resinera, Beas de Segura, and Gergal bases, totaling 29:30 hours. Although assigned to the Gergal forest base from 7 August, he was at the Beas del Segura base in Jaén on 8, 9, and 10 August due to a fire in the Cazorla mountains. He did not fly the aircraft on 11 August. The pilot reported that he was not feeling well physically on the day of the accident, having not rested adequately during the night and having had some fever. The aircraft had a valid airworthiness certificate, and maintenance had been performed according to the approved maintenance program. It was equipped with a Pratt & Whitney PT6A-67AG engine, serial number PCERD0023, which produces a takeoff torque of 4,170 lb × ft. According to expert operators, the Air Tractor 802 has a complex takeoff regarding engine torque compensation. The pre-takeoff procedure requires setting the rudder trim compensator in the green arc to help counteract engine torque during takeoff, when the aircraft has high power but low speed, making the flight controls less effective. Engine torque causes the aircraft to turn left, a tendency that must also be compensated by pressing the right pedal. Crosswind makes this operation more complex, especially if the wind is from the left. ## Aerodrome Information The Gergal forest base is located in the province of Almería and is used as a base for firefighting. The runway is 1,000 meters long and paved, oriented 120°/210°. The aerodrome is fenced and is situated above the surrounding land, where intensive greenhouse cultivation is carried out. The slope of the adjacent lateral surfaces to the runway is approximately 2%.