2003 Socata TB-10 accident at Garcihernández (EC-FTI)

Accident Overview and Aircraft Details On Saturday, 20 September 2003, at approximately 09:30 local time, a single-engine Socata Tobago TB-10 with registration EC-FTI struck the ground in a field within the municipality of Garcihernández, in the province of Salamanca, Spain. The aircraft was operated by Adventia and powered by one Lycoming O-360-A1AD engine. The accident occurred during a general aviation solo training flight. ## Flight Sequence and Pilot Background The pilot, a 19-year-old student pilot holding a student pilot license, had a total of 79 flight hours, all of which were on the same aircraft type. He arrived at Salamanca Airport around 07:00 local time to conduct a planned solo training flight in the area south of the airport. A local flight plan was filed with an estimated departure time of 08:15 and a duration of two hours. At 08:16, the pilot received takeoff clearance from the Salamanca Airport control tower and departed runway 21. He then proceeded to the designated training area south of the airport, where he performed various maneuvers for approximately one hour. Around 09:25, the aircraft impacted the terrain in Garcihernández. ## Injuries and Aircraft Damage The pilot was the sole occupant of the aircraft. As a result of the impact, he sustained fractures in two vertebrae and various blows and bruises to his head and limbs, requiring hospitalization for more than 48 hours. The aircraft was practically destroyed in the accident. ## Investigation Findings The investigation revealed that the pilot had planned the flight for the previous Thursday and had discussed the mission with his instructor, which included slow flights, coordinated turns, and takeoffs and landings. He chose the area south of the airport because it was restricted to civil flights from Monday to Friday. During the flight, the pilot reported to the control tower that he was over point 'S' and would maintain an altitude between 7,500 feet and minimums. No further communications were made. The impact sequence indicated that the right wingtip was the first part of the aircraft to strike the ground, with the aircraft in a 34-degree right bank. The initial heading was 290 degrees, and the aircraft then turned 20 degrees to the right due to the wingtip impact. The aircraft continued to slide along the ground, shedding components, before finally capsizing and coming to rest inverted. The long distance traveled from the first impact to the final resting position indicated that the aircraft was traveling at considerable speed with a shallow descent angle. Witnesses in a vehicle on the nearby SA-114 road reported seeing the aircraft flying parallel to the road, then descending sharply and turning right toward the road at very low altitude. They observed no anomalies, engine sound changes, or smoke before the impact. The pilot was found in the cockpit, still secured by his seatbelt, with significant fuel spillage on the ground.