What happened
On September 24, 2007, a Morane Saulnier MS 893 E, registered F-BTVI, was conducting a private flight from Ibiza Airport to La Axarquia, Malaga. The aircraft was carrying a pilot and three passengers under visual flight conditions. While the initial stages of the flight proceeded normally, the aircraft encountered significant cloud formations as it entered a mountainous region northeast of Almeria.
To avoid the clouds, the pilot climbed to approximately 7,388 feet to clear a mountain range and subsequently decided to descend to 4,000 feet to remain below the cloud layer. As the aircraft progressed through the Gador Mountains, the terrain elevation began to rise sharply. Realizing the proximity of the mountains, the pilot attempted an emergency climb. However, the aircraft's rate of climb was insufficient to clear the peaks. In a final effort to mitigate the severity of the collision, the pilot deployed full flaps to reduce impact speed. The aircraft struck a mountain at an altitude of approximately 5,633 feet while in a climbing attitude.
The investigation
The investigation examined the aircraft's wreckage, flight data from an undamaged onboard GPS, and the pilot's flight planning. Investigators found that the aircraft was in a proper weight and center of gravity configuration for takeoff and that no mechanical failures contributed to the accident.
Analysis of the GPS data revealed that while the pilot had planned waypoints for the route, the flight plan did not account for the specific elevations of the terrain. The investigation also reviewed meteorological data, which confirmed the presence of cumulus and stratocumulus clouds in the area, and reviewed the pilot's recent flight history and fatigue levels, finding no evidence of pilot impairment.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was flying at an excessively low altitude within a mountainous region.
- The pilot's lack of familiarity with the local terrain elevations contributed to the error.
- The decision to continue the flight below the cloud layer, rather than backtracking or seeking an alternate route, was a contributing factor.
- The pilot's actions during the final moments—specifically the use of full flaps to minimize impact speed—likely prevented more severe injuries to the occupants.
- All occupants survived the impact, though one passenger sustained a broken nose; the others suffered minor injuries.