What happened
On 3 April 2002, a Robin DR-400/120, registration F-GLKF, was operating as part of a six-aircraft formation from the Union Aerienne Lille-RoubaixTourcoing Flying Club. The flight was traveling from Castellón to Almería under VFR conditions. While the group had initially planned Valencia as an alternative airport, the aircraft encountered significant weather changes upon approaching Almería.
As the formation reached the Almería Airport control zone, the wind had shifted to a crosswind component of 350º at 25–30 knots, with gusts up to 35 knots, making landing at the active runway unfeasible. Following a recommendation from the group's lead pilot, the aircraft diverted toward Granada. During the diversion, the pilot attempted to contact Granada Control and Malaga ATIS but was unable to establish communication, likely due to terrain and altitude.
While navigating the valleys near Órgiva, the pilot encountered heavy turbulence and thick cloud layers that prevented further VFR flight. Facing a lack of fuel to reach other airfields, the pilot decided to turn back and search for a landing site. At 16:25 local time, the pilot identified a stretch of the A-347 road near Berja. After verifying the road was clear of vehicles, the pilot performed an emergency landing. During the landing roll, the aircraft struck a tree, causing minor damage to the left wing. There were no injuries to the three occupants.
The investigation
The investigation examined the flight planning, meteorological data, and the pilot's decision-making process. Investigators analyzed the fuel consumption, confirming the aircraft had departed Castellón with full tanks and had consumed approximately 98 liters of its 110-liter capacity. The investigation also reviewed the meteorological reports (METAR and TAFOR) and the pilot's communications with Almería Tower.
Findings
- The flight plan was inadequate because it did not include suitable alternative airports for the specific scenario where the primary destination became inaccessible due to wind.
- The pilot's decision to divert to Granada was based on a misunderstanding of runway orientations, as he incorrectly believed the Granada runway was parallel to Almería's.
- The primary cause was an unsuitable flight plan, specifically regarding the lack of contingency planning for destination unavailability.
- Unexpected wind shifts at Almería rendered the planned landing impossible.
- The pilot's inability to establish contact with ATC or ATIS prevented him from receiving updated meteorological information for the diversion route.