What happened
On September 27, 2005, at approximately 10:30 local time, a Piper PA36-375 (registration EC-EYO) crashed in the Puerta del Segura area of Jaén, Spain. The aircraft was engaged in agricultural spraying operations, specifically targeting olive groves in the Sierra de Segura region.
The pilot had completed two previous flights that morning from the Beas de Segura airfield. The first was a technical check flight, and the second was a working flight through a valley following the N-322 highway. For the third flight of the morning, the pilot chose a different route through a valley further to the west, likely in an attempt to shorten the flight time.
During this third flight, the aircraft entered the valley at an abnormally low altitude. As the aircraft reached the end of the valley, the pilot attempted two maneuvers—a right turn followed by a left turn—but the aircraft struck the ground. The impact resulted in one fatality and the total destruction of the aircraft.
The investigation
The investigation examined the aircraft wreckage, meteorological reports, and witness testimonies. Witnesses observed the aircraft flying at a very low altitude compared to its previous flight path. They noted that the aircraft entered the valley and, after performing a left turn, immediately plummeted into the terrain. No liquid discharge from the aircraft was observed by witnesses prior to the impact.
Physical inspection of the wreckage showed the engine and nose were heavily compressed due to a direct impact. The propeller blades were found embedded in the ground, indicating the engine was producing power at the moment of impact. Investigators also noted that the aircraft was still carrying its chemical load, as traces of the spraying liquid were found at the crash site. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's experience, noting that while the pilot held a commercial license, they had very limited experience in agricultural flying and specifically lacked experience in mountainous terrain.
Findings
- The pilot's decision to change the flight route led the aircraft into more complex terrain.
- The aircraft was flying at an abnormally low altitude within the valley.
- The aircraft's climb performance was insufficient to clear the rising terrain at the end of the valley.
- The pilot failed to utilize the emergency procedure of jettisoning the load to improve aircraft performance when encountering difficult terrain.
- The pilot lacked sufficient experience in agricultural flight operations over mountainous landscapes.