Factual Information
The accident occurred on Tuesday, 28 November 2006 at 18:00 local time near Hinojosa del Duque, Córdoba, Spain. The aircraft was a Robin DR-400/160, registration F-BXRG, powered by a single Lycoming O-320-D2A engine. It was privately operated. The pilot, aged 26, held a student pilot license with 120 total flight hours, of which only 2 hours were on the type.
Sequence of Events
According to the pilot's statement, he departed from Juliana aerodrome in Seville at approximately 17:00 local time, bound for Hinojosa del Duque. The flight was normal until weather conditions deteriorated, reducing visibility. About one hour after departure, he arrived in the vicinity of the Hinojosa airstrip. Visibility was further reduced by low cloud cover (5-7 octas, ceiling very low) and the onset of dusk. The pilot had not consulted the weather at the destination. While attempting to land, he mistook an adjacent plowed field for the runway. On first contact with the ground, the aircraft bounced, fell several meters, and overturned. The pilot checked himself and found he was uninjured, then exited the aircraft unaided.
Aircraft Damage
The aircraft sustained minor damage, including to the nose gear, propeller, and various parts of the fuselage. The first impact point was located approximately 300 meters from the Hinojosa runway. The nose gear left a deeper track in the soil compared to the main landing gear, consistent with the plowed and moist field conditions.
Investigation and Cause
The investigation concluded that the cause of the accident was the pilot's confusion in recognizing the runway, brought on by lack of visibility. Contributing factors were inadequate flight planning and preparation, and the pilot's lack of aptitude for flight.