What happened
On December 7, 2004, a Reims Cessna 172-J, registration EC-CCZ, departed Tenerife North-Los Rodeos Airport bound for El Aaiún. Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft experienced a significant loss of engine power. The pilot attempted to navigate toward a landing site on the Añaza coast, but the aircraft's flight path became erratic as the pilot struggled to find suitable terrain. Ultimately, the aircraft could not reach the intended landing area and ditched into the Atlantic Ocean near the Añazo breakwater.
Following the impact, the aircraft began to sink nose-first, quickly becoming submerged with only the tail section remaining above the water. Although the occupants were able to unbuckle their seatbelts and were conscious immediately after the ditching, they were unable to exit the aircraft before it submerged. Divers from the Tenerife Fire Consortium rescued both individuals 15 minutes later. The pilot died at the scene due to failed resuscitation efforts, and the passenger passed away four days later in the hospital due to injuries sustained from saltwater submersion.
The investigation
Investigators examined the engine, fuel, and the aircraft's structural state following its recovery from the sea. The investigation focused on the sequence of events leading to the power loss and the factors that prevented a successful evacuation. The examination of the engine revealed that while no single failure was definitive, a combination of minor deficiencies likely caused the power loss. Additionally, the investigation looked into the accessibility of the aircraft exits and the survival conditions of the occupants.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was a simultaneous occurrence of several engine deficiencies, which likely included reduced fuel flow caused by a piece of paint in the distributor valve, clogged injectors, or weak spark from the spark plugs.
- The lack of suitable emergency landing sites in the immediate vicinity contributed to the accident.
- The pilot's repeated changes in decision regarding the intended landing location caused the aircraft to lose necessary altitude, preventing it from reaching the Añaza plain.
- The passenger's severe phobia of water likely prevented her from exiting through the left door as the aircraft submerged.
- The right-side cabin door remained closed and locked, partly because the handle had been incorrectly installed, which hindered the evacuation process.
- Neither occupant was wearing a life jacket at the time of the accident.