What happened
On July 4, 2000, at approximately 09:30 local time, a Piper PA-36-375, registration EC-EIP, was involved in a ground incident at the "La Abundancia" landing strip located in the municipality of Villafranco del Guadalquivir, Sevilla. The aircraft, which was being operated for agricultural spraying services, had just completed its ninth flight of the morning.
While the aircraft was taxiing on the runway, the pilot attempted to cross a bridge situated at the end of the strip. As the aircraft moved across the structure, the right wheel drifted off the edge of the bridge. The pilot was able to maintain control of the aircraft's braking and direction until the excursion occurred. The incident resulted in significant damage to the aircraft, including a broken right landing gear strut, various damages to the right wing, bent propeller blades, and potential engine damage. The pilot sustained no injuries.
The investigation
The investigation established that the weather conditions at the time were favorable, characterized by calm winds, good visibility, clear skies, and a temperature of 25 degrees Celsius. The runway involved in the operation measured 1500 meters in length and 10 meters in width.
It was noted that the pilot was highly experienced with this specific landing strip, having operated from this location for several years. The investigation focused on the physical characteristics of the bridge, noting that the structure was quite narrow and featured an upward slope in the direction of the aircraft's travel.