What happened
On October 8, 2009, an Air Tractor AT-502B, registration EC-GHI, was performing agricultural spraying operations to treat olive fruit flies in the municipality of Archidona, Málaga. The aircraft, operated by Ángel Martínez Ridao Tratamientos Aéreos, had departed from a temporary landing strip in Antequera for its third flight of the day.
While flying at a low altitude, the pilot suddenly identified an electrical pole directly in the flight path. In an attempt to avoid the obstacle, the pilot pulled up the aircraft's nose; however, the propeller struck the pole. The impact caused one propeller blade to detach, resulting in significant engine vibration and a loss of power. Following this impact, the aircraft continued its flight path and collided with cables from a second power line, which were severed by the propeller. The pilot subsequently performed an emergency landing in an olive grove. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, and two power lines were affected. The pilot sustained serious injuries, while the passenger remained uninjured.
The investigation
The investigation examined the flight conditions, the pilot's actions, and the operational environment. It was established that the meteorological conditions were favorable, with good visibility and light winds. The investigation also reviewed the operator's procedures, noting that the pilot had conducted a prior reconnaissance of the area in accordance with company manuals and was highly experienced in both the aircraft type and the specific mission.
Investigators analyzed the flight altitude relative to the infrastructure. The agricultural spraying was being conducted at an altitude of approximately 7 to 9 meters, which was lower than the estimated 10 to 12-meter height of the power lines. The investigation also addressed the pilot's difficulty in managing the aircraft during the emergency landing, as the placement of the master switch on the right side of the cockpit required the pilot to momentarily release the control column to cut the electrical power.
Findings
- The primary cause of the collision was a pilot error in judging the aircraft's flight path relative to the position of the power lines.
- The flight path was running parallel to the electrical lines, which made them difficult to perceive.
- The use of GPS equipment for precision spraying requires significant pilot attention, which can lead to errors in obstacle perception.
- The electrical pole lacked any visual markers or contrast enhancements to make it more visible against the surrounding environment.