Flight History
Aircraft D-EIGB, a Mooney M-20E, departed Perpignan Airport at approximately 09:20 UTC on a private flight to Castellón aerodrome, with the intention of continuing to the Málaga region. While making an approach to runway 18, its left wing collided with a microlight autogyro, registration EC-YQH. The autogyro fell to the ground, while D-EIGB landed safely about one and a half minutes after the impact, which occurred around 12:40 local time. The microlight autogyro had taken off from runway 36 approximately 30 minutes before the collision and was reportedly performing local flights along the coast in a northward direction.
Injuries
The occupants of aircraft D-EIGB were uninjured. The occupants of microlight EC-YQH sustained fatal injuries.
Damage to Aircraft
Aircraft D-EIGB sustained damage to the left wing, including a tear in the skin on both upper and lower surfaces, affecting almost the entire chord from the trailing edge to the rear of the main spar. Rib and longeron breakages occurred over approximately 1.5 meters. The tear began at the trailing edge of the left flap and extended toward the leading edge, nearly perpendicular to the span, then turned along the rear section of the main spar toward the wingtip. Additionally, the leading edge showed blows and dents. Microlight autogyro EC-YQH was totally destroyed and largely consumed by a post-impact fire, which was extinguished by the Castellón fire service.
Personnel Information
The pilot of D-EIGB held a valid private pilot license, had approximately 3000 total flight hours (150 hours on type), and was physically fit. The pilot of EC-YQH had obtained a Microlight Pilot’s permit and license on 8 October 1996, which expired on 9 November 2001. He did not hold a valid license at the time of the accident. Other aerodrome users described him as an experienced pilot of microlight autogyros.
Aircraft Information
Aircraft D-EIGB had a valid certificate of airworthiness (issued 7 November 1996) and a valid inspection certificate dated 22 October 2002. Microlight autogyro EC-YQH was an amateur-built design (model VM-002, serial number 96/020-970). It received a provisional certificate of airworthiness on 13 August 1997, valid for six months, intended for in-flight tests to obtain a definitive certificate. These tests were never performed, and at the time of the accident the microlight did not hold a certificate of airworthiness. The engine found among the wreckage was a CAM-125, which did not match the documented engine (a Rotax 532).
Communications
The control tower at Castellón communicated with D-EIGB on frequency 123.50 MHz without problems; no recordings exist due to lack of equipment. After that communication, the tower attempted to contact EC-YQH but was unsuccessful.
Meteorological Information
Witnesses reported excellent visibility and no meteorological complications.
Wreckage and Impact Information
D-EIGB landed at Castellón with the described damage. The wreckage of EC-YQH fell onto the beach approximately 2,100 meters north-northeast of the control tower, concentrated within a 15-meter radius, except for one rotor blade found 200 meters away. Among the wreckage were a radio unit and headphones; the radio was separated from the headphones and the headphones from the occupants' bodies. Most parts were unidentifiable. The engine found was a CAM-125, not the type stated in the microlight's documentation from 1996.
Statements
The pilot of D-EIGB stated that he contacted the tower, was instructed to approach perpendicular to runway 18, and was given landing clearance. The tower did not report other traffic. While completing the approach at about 600-700 feet and 1 km from the threshold, he saw a rotor-equipped vehicle above him to the left, approximately 10 meters away, with a very inclined rotor plane, possibly indicating an aerobatic attitude. He had seen another aircraft flying low over the sea 15 km from the aerodrome but stated it was not the collision aircraft. The tower controller confirmed authorizing D-EIGB to land and then attempting to contact the microlight without success.
Organization of Flights
Castellón aerodrome lacked authorization as a microlight flying center and had no Flight Director. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGAC) noted that coordination of different traffic types at private aerodromes is the Flight Director's responsibility under current regulations.
Analysis
The report discusses that both pilots were familiar with the area; meteorological conditions were good; the microlight's engine was different from the documented one, though this was not considered a relevant circumstance; based on collision damage, it was likely the Mooney struck the microlight; the autogyro was probably below the airplane at impact.