What happened
On July 2, 2000, at 08:30 local time, a PZL M-18A aircraft, registration EC-GFR, was performing a landing at a forest runway located in the municipality of Hiendelaencina, Guadalajara. The aircraft was engaged in firefighting operations at the time of the occurrence.
While the aircraft was already on the runway during the landing phase, it experienced a sudden movement that caused it to veer to the left. The aircraft departed the runway surface and traveled a short distance before coming to a stop in a drainage ditch running parallel to the runway. The impact caused the right main landing gear leg to break and resulted in the underside of the right wing and the tip of one propeller blade scraping the ground. The pilot was uninjured.
The investigation
The investigation examined the environmental conditions and the state of the airfield. At the time of the incident, weather conditions were characterized by variable wind direction and intensity, with good visibility, no clouds, and a temperature of 20 degrees Celsius. The runway, measuring 980 meters in length and 10 meters in width, was found to be in good condition.
According to the pilot's statement, a sudden jolt occurred while the aircraft was on the runway, displacing it from the centerline and leading to the excursion. The investigation also confirmed that the aircraft's airworthiness certificate was valid, the maintenance program was being followed, and the pilot held a valid commercial pilot license.