Accident Overview
On Friday, 5 August 2022, a Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) model Tecnam Astore P2002, registration HZ-ASL, crashed on a beach near Al-Haridah airstrip in Asir Province, Saudi Arabia, approximately 59 miles west of Abha Airport. The flight, which originated for sightseeing, carried a pilot and one passenger with no flight experience.
Flight Sequence
The pilot initially performed a one-circuit over the field and landed for a short tea break of about one hour. At 18:26 local time, the pilot made a second takeoff with the intention of flying the standard right circuit pattern. During the approach to land, the pilot encountered a right crosswind and decided to execute a go-around. Moments after initiating the go-around, the pilot reported becoming unconscious. Upon regaining awareness, the pilot saw the sea surface filling his view, instinctively rolled the wing level and pitched up, then lost consciousness again. The pilot recalled next waking in an ambulance en route to the hospital.
Impact and Rescue
The aircraft struck the water surface approximately 15 meters from the shore in shallow water. No fire occurred. The accident was visible from a manned coast guard center, prompting immediate rescue. Coast guard personnel found both the pilot and passenger unconscious, removed their seat belts, extracted them from the aircraft, and transported them to the beach. They were then transferred by ambulance to Asir Hospital, where they received surgical intervention and remained hospitalized for more than 10 days. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
Investigation Findings
A video clip posted on social media, with good sound and image quality, captured the aircraft’s turning roll until impact. The video showed the plane rising steadily, then turning left, followed by a sharp turn with the nose pointing down. Ground features such as lighting poles and the coast helped estimate the accident location. The video also confirmed the absence of an aircraft stall or engine failure, as the engine sound continued normally until impact.
The pilot held a valid third-category health certificate and was authorized for the flight; no restrictions or health conditions related to the described incapacitation were noted. The aircraft’s certificate of airworthiness and registration were valid, and maintenance records indicated proper practices.
Conclusion
The investigation concluded that temporary pilot incapacitation occurred during the critical go-around roll, leading to loss of control and causing the nose to pitch down until impact.