What happened
On April 16, 2018, a Cessna 150G, registration LV-CQT, was conducting a flight training mission intended for pilot readjustment. The flight originated from Morón airport with the intention of practicing radio procedures at El Palomar; however, after being denied access to El Palomar, the instructor diverted the aircraft to the General Rodríguez aerodrome.
After completing an initial touch-and-go on runway 35, the aircraft began a subsequent approach. During the final stages of this approach, the aircraft struck the ground, resulting in two serious injuries to the crew. The impact caused the destruction of the airframe and significant damage to the engine and propeller.
The investigation
The investigation examined the aircraft's maintenance history, the flight's operational execution, and the technical condition of the onboard safety equipment. Investigators found that the aircraft's flap position indicator was non-functional and that the flaps were fully extended at the time of the accident.
Furthermore, the investigation reviewed the installation of safety devices, noting that the Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) was installed incorrectly, facing the opposite direction of the manufacturer's specifications, which prevented its automatic activation upon impact. The investigation also noted that the aircraft was not being maintained strictly according to the manufacturer's prescribed intervals and lacked shoulder harnesses.
Findings
- The aircraft was flying at an extremely low altitude, estimated between 5 and 10 meters, approximately 250 meters from the runway.
- Mechanical turbulence likely caused a loss of control that was impossible to recover from due to the proximity to the ground.
- There were significant deviations in the planning and execution of the approach phase.
- The aircraft's weight at takeoff exceeded the maximum allowable weight because the fuel tanks were full.
- The ELT failed to activate because its mounting was improper and its locks were unsecured.