What happened
On September 27, 2002, at 14:10 local time, a PIPER PA-18-150, registration EC-AMK, was performing a commercial advertising flight involving banner towing. The flight originated from Valencia Airport, and after completing its advertising duties, the pilot proceeded to Murcia – San Javier Airport.
While approaching runway 23, the pilot flew over the airfield between the runway and the parallel taxiway to release the advertising banner near the terminal area. Following the release, the pilot executed a left turn to align with the runway for landing. As the aircraft was over the runway, the pilot lost control, causing the aircraft to impact the surface with significant force on the right main gear. The aircraft subsequently slid along the runway, and the pilot managed to bring it to a stop before reaching the end of the runway.
The impact caused damage to the propeller and the right main landing gear strut. The pilot was uninjured.
The investigation
The investigation examined the flight path and the meteorological conditions at the time of the incident. METAR reports from 14:00 and 15:00 local time indicated visibility of 7,000 to over 10,000 meters, with temperatures around 25-26°C. The wind was recorded at approximately 6 to 8 knots, with a direction that suggested a crosswind component acting almost perpendicularly from the left during the maneuver.
The investigation analyzed the distance available for the pilot to complete the turn and realignment. From the point of the banner release to the end of runway 23, there was approximately 700 to 800 meters of distance. While this distance was theoretically sufficient to execute the turn, the investigation noted that the margin for error was extremely narrow, especially given the presence of the crosswind.
Findings
- The pilot attempted to stabilize the aircraft for landing with very limited safety margins.
- The maneuver required precise execution within a short distance (700-800 meters) following the banner release.
- The presence of a crosswind increased the difficulty of maintaining control during the turn and alignment.
- The pilot failed to abort the landing attempt when control difficulties arose, continuing the approach despite the inability to stabilize the aircraft.