Accident Overview
On Saturday, 27 July 2002, at 09:00 local time, a Piper PA-36-375 aircraft, registration EC-EJX, crashed during the takeoff roll from a temporary airstrip in Valdetorres, Badajoz, Spain. The aircraft was being used for agricultural spraying operations, specifically dusting cornfields with powder product. This was the second flight of the morning. Immediately after takeoff, the aircraft impacted the terrain adjacent to the airstrip. The pilot, the sole occupant, was uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, including the rupture of both main landing gear legs, damage to the propeller, engine, and various areas of the wings and fuselage. No significant third-party damage occurred.
Pilot Information
The pilot, aged 36, held a Commercial Pilot License valid until 18 February 2003. He had a total flight experience of 2,121 hours, of which 1,610 hours were on the accident aircraft type.
Aircraft Information
The Piper PA-36-375 was powered by a Lycoming IO-720-D1CD engine. It possessed a valid airworthiness certificate and was maintained according to the approved maintenance program. The maximum capacity of the chemical hopper was 1,000 kilograms (1,041 liters). According to the operator's statement, the aircraft was carrying an estimated 550–650 kilograms of powder product at the time of the accident, well below the maximum takeoff weight.
Weather Conditions
No specific meteorological data from the accident site were available, but nearby stations (20–50 km away) indicated surface winds of 2–4 knots with gusts up to 8 knots, direction 220°–300°. Temperatures were around 20–22°C, with no cloud cover and visibility greater than 10 km. Aloft, at 2,000 feet, winds were light and temperature was 28°C; at 5,000 feet, wind was 9 knots from 160°, temperature 20°C. A relative low pressure area was present over the Gulf of Cádiz extending to Extremadura. No adverse weather phenomena were forecast for the area at the time.
Accident Sequence
The pilot reported that during the takeoff roll, near the end of the airstrip, the aircraft was becoming airborne when a gust or wind swirl pushed it back toward the ground. As a result, the main landing gear struck a mound of earth, the aircraft became unbalanced, and it violently impacted the terrain. The pilot stated that he shut down the engine before impact. Examination of the propeller indicated the engine was stopped or producing very low power at impact. The aircraft slid on its underside; the right main gear leg folded against the wing, and the left main gear leg was torn off and found about 30 meters from the main wreckage.
Investigation and Conclusions
Based on the estimated load of 550–650 kg, the aircraft was operating well below its maximum authorized takeoff weight. The airstrip altitude and ambient temperature did not appear to be limiting factors. However, the investigation noted that agricultural aircraft often operate at the weight limit defined by operational circumstances, leaving little margin for minor disturbances. The probable cause was determined to be that the available takeoff distance was very tight considering the weight, temperature, and altitude conditions under which the aircraft was operating.