Accident Overview
On Sunday, December 7, 2003, at approximately 12:30 local time, a Piper PA-28-180 aircraft (registration EC-CGI) was involved in an accident near San Rafael on the island of Ibiza. The aircraft was participating in a timed flight competition organized for the Virgen del Loreto festival. The flight was the sixth of the day and carried two pilots and two passengers.
Flight History
The flight began normally, with the pilot in the left seat at the controls. The aircraft departed from Ibiza Airport and followed the designated route: Ibiza Airport – San Rafael – San Antonio – San José – Ibiza Airport. The final leg was not timed and was subject to air traffic control instructions. After completing the circuit, the crew performed a low approach at the airport during which control was transferred to the pilot in the right seat. The aircraft then climbed and set course for San Rafael.
Engine Failure and Forced Landing
Near the timing point at San Rafael, while at approximately 500 feet above ground level, the engine stopped. The crew made several unsuccessful attempts to restart the engine. The pilot in the left seat operated the electric fuel pump, which initially showed no effect; later, after cycling the pump, it briefly restored fuel pressure and the engine restarted but stopped again. The fuel selector was then switched to a different tank, again with temporary restart followed by stoppage. The carburetor heat was not used during the emergency.
As the aircraft lost altitude, the pilot in the right seat, who was flying, spotted a small almond grove and decided to land there. Because the field was small, the pilot pulled the elevator control at about 4 meters above the ground to stall the aircraft onto the ground. The aircraft contacted the ground hard and came to a stop shortly thereafter.
Injuries
The pilot in the right seat struck his head against the instrument panel, sustaining injuries to the forehead that required hospitalization for more than 48 hours. The pilot in the left seat also hit his head, resulting in injuries to the lower jaw that did not require hospitalization. One of the two rear-seat passengers suffered minor head injuries from striking the front seat back; the other passenger was uninjured.
Aircraft Damage
The aircraft sustained substantial damage. Both main landing gear legs were torn off; the nose gear was bent backward, breaking several tubes of the engine mount and deforming the rest. One propeller blade was bent backward with longitudinal marks; the other was virtually intact. There was no fuel spillage or fire.
Crew Information
Both pilots held commercial pilot licenses with ratings for single-engine and multi-engine land, instrument, and flight instructor. The pilot in command had about 250 total flight hours, with 75 hours on type. The other pilot had about 912 total hours, also with 75 hours on type.
Meteorological Conditions
METAR reports from Ibiza Airport at 12:00 and 12:30 local time indicated wind from 250° at 12 knots, varying between 220° and 280°, visibility greater than 10 km, no significant clouds, temperature 18°C, dew point 12°C and later 10°C, QNH 1016 hPa.