Cessna 150-L Emergency Landing on AP-1 Highway in Burgos (EC-KZP)

Incident Overview and Flight Details On August 21, 2013, at 13:50 local time, a Cessna 150-L with registration EC-KZP, operated by FlyBai, S.L., executed an emergency landing at kilometer 21 of the AP-1 highway in Burgos, Spain. The aircraft was conducting a general aviation training flight under dual command. The flight originated from Bilbao Airport at 12:54 local time, with Casarrubios del Monte in Toledo as the intended destination. The aircraft was fully fueled at 12:00 local time, and pre-flight inspections and tests were completed satisfactorily by the instructor. ## Crew and Aircraft Information The aircraft carried two crew members: an instructor and a student pilot. The instructor was a 30-year-old Spanish national holding a valid medical certificate, a commercial pilot license, and instructor and single-engine ratings. At the time of the incident, the instructor had 1,150 total flight hours, including 1,110 hours on type. The Cessna 150-L, serial number 15075670, was manufactured in 1974 and had been registered in Spain since July 31, 2009. The aircraft was powered by a Teledyne Continental O-200-A engine, serial number 253668. ## Engine Malfunction and Emergency Response Approximately one hour into the flight, while cruising at 6,000 feet, the student pilot observed the engine's revolutions per minute (rpm) dropping by 1,000 rpm and recovering in an uncontrolled manner, accompanied by changes in exhaust sound. The student pilot described the behavior as similar to a cylinder failure. The instructor took control of the aircraft and checked the engine parameters, which appeared normal. Attempts to enrich the mixture and adjust the throttle and mixture failed to stabilize the engine. Although the engine did not stop, the aircraft continued to lose altitude at a rate of 400 rpm. The crew notified the Vitoria tower of their intention to divert to Burgos Airport. However, due to the continued altitude loss, the instructor determined that they would not reach Burgos and decided to make an off-airfield landing. ## Landing and Aftermath The instructor selected a straight, three-lane section of the AP-1 highway with no overhead power lines and traffic moving in the same direction. The area had light traffic, and the aircraft briefly overflew the highway to alert drivers. The landing was executed with power, and the engine was shut down after touchdown. Both occupants were uninjured, and the aircraft sustained no damage. The aircraft was moved to the shoulder to minimize disruption to highway traffic. After the landing, the instructor attempted to contact the Vitoria tower but was unsuccessful. The instructor then called the Bilbao Airport Office (ARO) to report their location and status. The Vitoria tower had already alerted the Guardia Civil, which arrived at the scene shortly after the landing.