What happened
On September 8, 2004, at approximately 09:30 local time, a Cessna T-188-C, registration EC-ETS, was performing agricultural spraying operations over olive groves in the municipality of Algodonales, Cádiz. The aircraft was operating from a temporary landing strip located at the "Las Casas" estate.
During a low-level spray pass, the left wing of the aircraft struck an electrical cable. This impact caused structural damage to the left wing, including the loss of part of the wing tip and partial tearing of the leading edge. Despite the damage, the pilot managed to maintain control and continued the flight, likely intending to return to the base of operations.
As the aircraft proceeded through a valley, the pilot encountered another set of power lines. In an attempt to clear these lines, the pilot performed a sharp climbing maneuver. This sudden increase in load, combined with the aerodynamic degradation caused by the previous wing damage, led to an aerodynamic stall. The aircraft subsequently impacted the ground with high energy, resulting in a post-crash fire that destroyed the aircraft. The pilot, the sole occupant, sustained fatal injuries.
The investigation
The CIAIAC investigation examined the aircraft's maintenance records, the pilot's flight experience, and the physical evidence at the crash site. Investigators analyzed the damage to the EC-ETS left wing, which showed deformation and material loss consistent with a strike against a cable. Witnesses reported seeing the aircraft flying abnormally and observing debris falling from the wing prior to the final impact. The investigation also reviewed the meteorological conditions, which were found to be favorable for flight, with good visibility and light winds.
Findings
- The initial impact with an unidentified cable damaged the underside of the left wing, specifically the leading edge and the wing tip.
- The structural damage to the left wing created asymmetrical lift and increased drag, which the pilot initially compensated for using ailerons and rudder.
- The pilot chose to continue the flight toward the base rather than performing an emergency landing at a nearby field.
- The pilot's sharp climbing maneuver to avoid a second set of power lines induced a stall due to the reduced aerodynamic performance of the damaged wing.