Overview
On Saturday, August 14, 2004, a Cessna 150-L aircraft, registration EC-FEH, was forced to land in an olive grove near Bujalance, Córdoba. The aircraft was operated by a private owner and was on a VFR flight from Madrid-Cuatro Vientos Airport to Córdoba. The pilot, aged 35, held a commercial pilot license and had 625 total flight hours. One passenger, also a pilot, was on board.
Aircraft and Flight
The aircraft was a Cessna 150-L, serial number 150-73157, built in 1972. It was powered by a single Teledyne Continental O-200-A engine. The aircraft was equipped with a VOR receiver, a GPS, a transponder, and a radio. Before departure, both fuel tanks were filled to capacity (98 liters total). The flight departed at 09:50 local time with a planned route to Córdoba.
Sequence of Events
Shortly after takeoff, the GPS displayed erroneous indications and was not used. Navigation was performed using VOR signals, but the aircraft had only one VOR receiver, requiring sequential tuning to determine position via triangulation. The crew passed over Ciudad Real and identified the high-speed rail line, intending to approach Córdoba from Pozoblanco. They did not contact any air traffic control and kept the transponder off.
Later in the flight, one VOR signal was lost, making it impossible to determine their position. The pilot began circling, trying to locate Córdoba. After approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes of flight, they saw a town they believed was Córdoba. They circled for 30 minutes looking for the airport but did not find it. They realized the town could not be Córdoba because it had no river. They could not tune the Córdoba VOR.
Continuing without position awareness, they eventually experienced low fuel. The pilot spotted a straight section of a country road and decided to land there. During the approach, the aircraft overshot the alignment and a go-around was initiated. While turning 180° for another attempt, the engine failed due to fuel exhaustion. The pilot was forced to land in an olive grove.
Injuries and Rescue
The pilot sustained serious head injuries and lost consciousness. The passenger was apparently unharmed. The passenger used the pilot's phone to call the ARO office at Madrid-Cuatro Vientos at 14:20, reporting an emergency landing 23 nautical miles north of Córdoba. The passenger then walked to a road and flagged down a vehicle. A subsequent call provided the location "Arroyo de Cañetejo". The Guardia Civil arrived and transported the pilot to a waiting emergency helicopter, which evacuated him to a hospital in Córdoba. The aircraft was substantially damaged, and some olive trees were damaged.