Piper PA-36-400 Brave Crash in Castillo de Locubín (EC-ENY)

Incident Overview and Location On Tuesday, September 26, 2006, at 12:15 local time, a Piper PA-36-400 Brave with registration EC-ENY crashed into a hillside in the municipality of Castillo de Locubín, Jaén, Spain. The aircraft was operated by TAMSA and was engaged in commercial agricultural spraying of olive groves. The crash site was located at coordinates 37°33’36” N and 3°53’42” W. ## Aircraft and Crew Details The aircraft was powered by a single Lycoming IO-720-D1C engine. The pilot in command was a 28-year-old commercial pilot holding a CPL (A) license, with 1,800 total flight hours and 100 hours on type. The pilot was uninjured in the accident. The aircraft sustained major damage, and minor damage was reported to the surrounding vegetation. ## Flight Sequence and Operational Context The aircraft was on its fourth flight of the day, performing a second pass over a farm situated on a southwest-facing slope. The first pass was conducted with a full hopper, starting from the upper part of the farm and descending along the slope. For the second pass, the aircraft began from the lower part of the slope with approximately one-third of the hopper capacity remaining. The pilot initiated the climb at a low altitude, believing the aircraft had sufficient performance to ascend the slope. ## Accident Sequence During the second pass, the aircraft attempted to climb the slope but was unable to maintain a trajectory gradient equal to or greater than the slope's incline. The pilot applied maximum power and considered turning but did not identify a clear escape route. The aircraft struck olive trees on the hillside during straight flight. The pilot released the remaining load approximately 150 meters before impact. ## Meteorological Conditions Weather conditions were good, with no clouds present at the time of the accident. ## Analysis and Conclusions The investigation highlighted the reduced safety margins associated with low-altitude agricultural spraying, particularly in rugged terrain with steep slopes and narrow valleys. The pilot initiated the climb from a very low altitude that did not ensure obstacle clearance, and no safe escape route was planned. The report recommended that agricultural spraying in mountainous areas should generally use oblique angles to allow for quick outward turns if obstacles cannot be cleared, ensuring a safe escape route is always available. The task should have been initiated from the upper part of the slope to allow for adequate altitude gain between passes.