Flight Details
On October 10, 2019, a Diamond DA-40 aircraft, registration EC-JSX, operated by Aerolink Air Service, departed Sabadell Airport at 18:03 local time for a night visual flight. The flight was planned to last three hours, with simulated ILS approaches at Girona Airport and a final landing at Reus Airport. On board were an instructor and a student pilot.
Accident Sequence
After departure, the aircraft, with call sign ARK402N, proceeded to Girona Airport, where it conducted two simulated ILS approaches to runway 20, including touch-and-go landings. Subsequently, it flew visually toward Reus Airport, passing near Sabadell and skirting the Barcelona Control Zone. The crew had established radio and radar contact with Barcelona Approach and had planned to use the ILS approach for runway 25 at Reus, starting from the Villafranca VOR and aligning at the Benid point, 15 NM from Reus.
The instructor contacted Reus Tower twice and was expected to call again upon reaching 2,000 feet altitude. A few minutes later, the controller initiated contact but received no response. After several unsuccessful attempts to reach the aircraft, an emergency was declared at 20:39 local time. Wreckage was located hours later at the Mas Gatell farm in Salomó, Tarragona.
Wreckage and Impact
The aircraft struck the ground with a high vertical angle. Debris was scattered down a slope across two vineyards over approximately 100 meters. Both pilots died. No fire occurred.
Investigation Findings
The investigation determined that the accident's cause was a lack of adherence to VFR flight procedures. A contributing factor was the crew's deficient analysis of the weather conditions at the destination airport during the planning of the night visual flight.