Event Description
The Piper PA-32-300, registered EC-MJN, was conducting parachute dropping operations at the restricted aerodrome of Ontur (Albacete, Spain) on 24 March 2016. After releasing the parachutists, the pilot returned to the aerodrome and performed a normal approach to runway 13 with two notches of flaps. As the aircraft was over the runway and about to touch down, a wind gust destabilized the aircraft and displaced it to the right, positioning it over an asphalt strip running parallel to the runway. The pilot initially considered aborting the landing but judged the speed insufficient for a go-around, so he continued the landing on the strip. He applied the brakes firmly as soon as the main landing gear contacted the ground, but could not prevent the aircraft from overrunning the end of the strip. The aircraft then fell down a small embankment between the aerodrome plot and an adjacent vineyard, where it came to a stop.
Damage and Injuries
The aircraft sustained minor damage, including the collapse of the nose gear, damage to the propeller, and damage to the lower engine cowling. The pilot was uninjured and able to exit the aircraft without assistance.
Investigation Findings
The investigation by the CIAIAC (Comisión de Investigación de Accidentes e Incidentes de Aviación Civil) determined that the incident was caused by an incorrect landing maneuver, which occurred in the presence of a tailwind. Contributing factors were identified as: the choice of runway 13 for landing, the pilot's limited experience in operating aircraft of the type involved, and the pilot's limited knowledge of the Ontur restricted aerodrome.