Incident Overview
On August 21, 2001, at 09:10 hours, a Piper PA-25-260 (registration EC-DTY) was engaged in agricultural spraying operations from an eventual runway located on a stubble field near Cordovilla, Salamanca. During the landing rollout after returning from a flight, the aircraft's left main landing gear entered a furrow that crossed the landing surface. The nose then contacted the ground without the aircraft turning over.
Pilot Account
According to the pilot's statement, approximately two seconds after touchdown, he felt a strong vibration from the left landing gear and suspected a tire blowout or gear damage. He applied right rudder to maintain directional control. At one point during the ground roll, the aircraft bounced and abruptly yawed 90 degrees to the right. A severe impact to the lower fuselage followed, then the nose struck the ground. The aircraft momentarily rested on its nose before returning to a normal attitude.
The pilot shut down the engine by cutting the mixture, turning off magnetos and the master switch, then exited and moved away. With assistance from a mechanic who arrived, they confirmed no hazards and disconnected the battery.
Damage
The aircraft sustained substantial damage: both main landing gear legs fractured, wings and spraying equipment damaged, and the propeller, engine, cowling, and other components affected.
Probable Cause
The investigation concluded that the most probable cause was the incorrect evaluation, determination, and marking of obstacles in the eventual field from which the aircraft was operating, leading to the left main landing gear contacting one of those obstacles during the landing ground roll.