Country
code

Catalonia

Crash of a Swearingen SA226T Merlin III in Andorra

Date & Time: Apr 26, 2016 at 1535 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N125WG
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Alicante - Andorra
MSN:
T-250
YOM:
1974
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
4750
Captain / Total hours on type:
1200.00
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed Alicante-Mutxamel Airport at 1221LT on a private flight to Andorra, carrying four passengers and one pilot. Following an uneventful flight at an altitude of 12,500 feet, the pilot informed ATC about electrical problems then initiated the descent to Andorra. About two minutes later, the electrical system totally failed. The pilot continued the approach to Andorra-La Seu d'Urgell Airport. After touchdown on runway 21, the undercarriage collapsed. The aircraft veered off runway to the right and came to rest in a grassy area. All five occupants evacuated safely and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
It is considered that the accident was caused by an error in the application of the emergency extension procedure of the landing gear following a total failure of the electrical system.
Contributing factors :
- Start a visual flight with a deferred pending repair in the electrical system, specifically with the generator on the right side.
- Lack of recent training and simulation with emergency procedures.
- The versatility of the pilot and diversity of different aircraft types flown.
- The non-activation of the warning light on the left-hand side of the cockpit panel when the electrical system failed about 30 minutes prior to the total exhaustion of all batteries.
Final Report:

Crash of a Swearingen SA226AT Merlin IVA in Girona

Date & Time: Apr 24, 2016 at 1520 LT
Operator:
Registration:
EC-GFK
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Girona - Girona
MSN:
AT-062
YOM:
1977
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
2402
Captain / Total hours on type:
27.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
7992
Copilot / Total hours on type:
6868
Aircraft flight hours:
16128
Circumstances:
The crew (one pilot under supervision and one instructor) departed Girona-Costa Brava on a local training flight. Following two successful landings and touch-and-go manoeuvres, the crew initiated a new approach to complete a full stop landing. The aircraft belly landed and slid for few dozen metres before coming to rest on the runway. Both pilots evacuated safely and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The cause of the accident was that the crew failed to actuate the lever used to deploy the landing gear. Inadequate presentation, in the operator's operating manuals, of the flight tasks to be performed by each crew member and the timing of these tasks is identified as a contributing factor.
Final Report:

Crash of a Partenavia P.68 Observer II in Sant Pere de Vilamajor: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 23, 2009 at 1045 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
EC-IPG
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Sabadell - Sabadell
MSN:
421-21-OB2
YOM:
2003
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
5686
Captain / Total hours on type:
155.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
6689
Copilot / Total hours on type:
9
Circumstances:
The airplane, a Vulcan Air PA68 Observer 2, registration EC-IPG, had taken off from Sabadell airport to conduct a local flight. Onboard were the instructor and a pilot who was being tested for a CRI (SPA) (Class Rating Instructor). As they were flying over the town of Sant Pere de Vilamajor (Barcelona), the aircraft plunged to the ground, falling within the property limit of a private dwelling (a chalet). Several eyewitnesses reported that they stopped hearing the engine noise and that they then saw the airplane spinning in a nose down attitude. The front part of the airplane (cockpit) impacted the ground first. The crash resulted in a fire, the flames from which reached a part of the aircraft and an arbor next to the house, but not the house itself, though it was affected by the smoke. The two occupants perished immediately and were trapped inside the airplane. They were extracted by emergency personnel. The aircraft was destroyed by the impact and subsequent fire. The post-accident inspection did not reveal any signs of a fault or malfunction of any aircraft component. It has been determined that the accident resulted from a stall caused by flying the aircraft at a low speed. It has also been concluded that there were three contributing factors: the low altitude, the very likely possibility that the crew did not establish guidelines for action prior to the flight and the absence of an authority gradient between the crew members.
Probable cause:
The accident was caused when the aircraft stalled during the performance of a slow flying maneuver with the right engine stopped. Factors that contributed to the accident were the low altitude, the possibility that the crew did not define the responsibilities of each prior to the flight and which may have resulted in a lack of coordination when faced with the circumstances in the final moments of the flight, and the lack of an authority gradient between the crew members.
Final Report:

Crash of a Casa 212 Aviocar 100 in Gerona

Date & Time: Oct 9, 2005
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
T.12B-29
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
51
YOM:
1976
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Empuriabrava Airfield, the aircraft was too low, causing the undercarriage to collide with the perimeter fence. Decision was taken to divert to Gerona-Costa Brava Airport. The aircraft landed on a foamed runway and came to rest. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.