What happened
On August 12, 2005, at 12:30 local time, an Air Tractor 802, registration EC-GGQ, was performing its first flight of the day at the Gergal fire suppression base in Almería, Spain. The flight was intended to ferry the aircraft to the Utrera base for a tire replacement. The aircraft was partially loaded and was operating on runway 30.
During the takeoff roll, after traveling approximately 600 meters, the aircraft encountered a strong wind gust from the left side. This gust caused the aircraft to veer sharply to the left. Although the pilot attempted to lift the aircraft, the main landing gear struck the perimeter fence surrounding the base. The momentum caused the aircraft to crash into a nearby greenhouse located roughly 50 meters from the runway. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, including a broken tail section, loss of parts of the left wing, and entanglement in steel cables from the greenhouse structure. The pilot was uninjured and able to exit the aircraft on his own.
The investigation
The investigation examined the aircraft's condition, the pilot's experience, and the environmental factors at the time of the accident. Investigators noted that the Air Tractor 802 is known for having a challenging takeoff roll regarding engine torque compensation. Specifically, the engine torque creates a leftward turning tendency that must be countered with right rudder pressure, a task made more difficult by crosswinds.
Technical inspection of the wreckage revealed that the aircraft's nose had rotated 180 degrees from its original takeoff heading. The investigation also noted that the pilot had not rested well the previous night and had experienced fever, which may have impacted his physical condition during the maneuver.