What happened
On August 29, 2003, at approximately 20:10 local time, a Cessna 172N, registration EC-EUK, crashed in a field near the La Axarquía Aerodrome in Vélez-Málaga, Spain. The aircraft, operated by a flight school, was performing a private local flight with one pilot and three passengers on board.
Following takeoff, the pilot notified nearby aircraft of his intention to perform takeoff and landing exercises. During the second attempt, the aircraft performed a very steep climb. During this maneuver, the aircraft lost airspeed, entered a stall, and subsequently entered a left-hand spin. Due to the low altitude, the pilot was unable to recover before the aircraft struck the ground approximately 225 meters beyond the end of runway 13. The impact was followed by an immediate intense fire, resulting in four fatalities.
The investigation
The investigation focused on two primary areas: the operational status of the engine and the nature of the flight maneuvers. Investigators examined the engine and propeller wreckage to determine if a mechanical failure had occurred. While some witnesses reported a change in engine sound or a perceived engine failure, the physical evidence—specifically the condition of the propeller blades—indicated that the engine was producing power and the propeller was rotating at a high RPM at the moment of impact.
Witness accounts also provided insight into the flight path. Although the pilot had declared an intention to perform standard takeoff and landing exercises, witnesses observed that the aircraft was actually performing low-altitude flypasts, maintaining very little height above the runway before initiating steep climbs.
Findings
- The aircraft was properly maintained and held a valid certificate of airworthiness.
- The pilot held a valid commercial pilot license (CPL-A) with significant flight experience.
- There was no evidence of mechanical failure or engine malfunction prior to the accident.
- The aircraft was operating at a weight near its maximum design limits.
- The loss of control was caused by an aerodynamic stall and subsequent spin resulting from a high-angle-of-attack climb at low altitude.