What happened
On August 16, 2002, at approximately 07:45 local time, a Piper PA-25-260, registration EC-DTY, was performing a repositioning flight from the Obando improvised airstrip to the Madrigalejo improvised airstrip in the province of Cáceres. Upon landing at the Madrigalejo site, the aircraft experienced a sudden, sharp leftward turn. This maneuver caused the aircraft to exit the runway on its left side, eventually coming to a stop in a roadside ditch located roughly 8 meters from the edge of the runway.
The impact resulted in substantial damage to the aircraft, specifically involving a heavily bent propeller and a broken right engine mount. The pilot sustained no injuries during the event.
The investigation
The investigation examined the pilot's statements and physical evidence at the scene. The pilot reported that the flight began at dawn with no perceptible wind. He noted that while he had operated at the Madrigalejo airstrip the previous day, this was his first landing at the site that morning. He described the sudden leftward movement occurring immediately upon touchdown.
Investigators analyzed photographs taken at the site, which revealed bushes located on the left side of the runway in close proximity to the landing surface. These bushes showed evidence of impact at a height consistent with the aircraft's wingtip.
Findings
- The aircraft veered off the runway due to a loss of control during the landing phase.
- The primary contributing factor was likely the impact of the left wingtip with the nearby bushes, which induced the sudden directional change.