What happened
On May 8, 2014, a Cessna 172-N, registration EC-HIK, operated by Aerotec, was performing a simulated engine failure maneuver during a training flight near Brunete, Madrid. During the final approach to runway 17, the aircraft was flying at idle power to simulate the loss of engine power.
As the aircraft approached overhead power lines, the student pilot, perceiving the aircraft to be too low, pulled back on the controls to increase the pitch angle. However, because no additional power was applied, the aircraft entered a stall and lost altitude rapidly. The instructor attempted to intervene by applying power and leveling the wings, but the aircraft was too low to recover before striking the ground.
The aircraft's main landing gear struck an embankment at the start of the runway, causing the plane to veer left. The aircraft then struck a perimeter fence, tearing away ten posts and wire. The impact caused damage to the left wing, landing gear, propeller, and elevators. Both the instructor and the student pilot were uninjured and evacuated the aircraft safely.
The investigation
The CIAIAC examined the flight sequence, the aircraft's maintenance history, and the training procedures of the operator. Investigators analyzed the impact marks on the terrain and the damage to the aircraft to reconstruct the event.
Key elements of the investigation included:
- Evaluating the altitude of the maneuver relative to the operator's safety minimums.
- Reviewing the student pilot's recent training history and the instructor's response.
- Assessing the physical evidence of the impact, including the state of the propeller and the damage to the landing gear.
Findings
- The aircraft was performing a simulated engine failure maneuver at an altitude likely below the 500 ft AGL minimum required by the operator's manual.
- The student pilot's reaction to the nearby power lines—pulling the controls back without adding power—directly induced the stall.
- The instructor's attempt to recover the aircraft was hindered by the insufficient altitude and the student's initial lack of response to verbal commands.
- The aircraft was flying at a low airspeed at the time of impact.
- The student pilot had recently completed only 23 hours of flight time with seven different instructors, which may have affected the consistency of their training.