Friday, March 22, 2013

Piper PA-28-161 Cherokee Warrior II, EC-DAF: Accident occurred March 19, 2013 in Alicante, Spain



A 14 year old child, together with her father and her uncle, died when their plane crashed on Tuesday lunchtime after taking off from the Muxtamel airfield. The crash took place in an adjacent olive field and all three were killed instantly.

The causes are still unknown although early indications point to either a mechanical failure or fuel problem, which would have forced the aircraft, piloted by the uncle, to attempt an unsuccessful emergency landing. The incident has caused deep dismay in Ibi, since the father and daughter lived in the town, while his uncle resided nearby in Alicante.

The accident occurred at 12.37 hours in a small hamlet, Paraeta EspĂ­, about 500 meters from the town of Ibi and near the road that provides access to Xorret de Cati. Also nearby is the village school, which was closed on Tuesday because of the public holiday.

The plane, which had taken off from the airfield at Mutxamel, crashed into an olive grove adjacent to an unoccupied building currently under construction.

The plane hit a large rock with the impact breaking the cabin in two. It is understood that the violent impact of the crash completely destroyed the aircraft which was blown up into numerous pieces, the wreckage being scattered over a radius of a hundred yards.

The alarm was raised by local residents who immediately called 112. The Guardia Civil, Local Police, fire and ambulance, were on the scene within minutes but they could do nothing for the three occupants of the plane who were all declared to be dead at the scene. Also in attendance were members of the judicial police, who carried out an inspection of the area.

The removal of the bodies occurred shortly before four in the afternoon, when they were transported to the Forensic Anatomical Institute of Alicante, where the three autopsies are expected to be carried out.

Several eyewitnesses, said that the plane was circling the area for some minutes without a fixed course. "I was surprised that it flew so low,” said one bystander, “and I had the feeling he was looking for a place to land.” “When the aircraft eventually hit the ground the impact was brutal."

The three casualties have been identified as Jose Antonio Perez, 49, his daughter Belen, 14, and the girl's uncle, Ricardo, 46, who was also a flight instructor and who was piloting the aircraft.

The father was a native of Onil, but resided in Castlebar for many years with his wife and daughter. Meanwhile, according to information provided, the uncle lived in Alicante.

According to a neighbor the plane ride was a father’s day gift which was to be used to take aerial photographs of their homes and the surrounding villages.

The President of the Mutxamel airfield, Israel Martinez-Campos Barroso, expressed his sadness for the tragic accident. He said the pilot had a great deal of flying experience and routinely flew every week. "We have spoken to witnesses who saw the accident and each one tells us something different. Some say the engine stopped while others say it wasn’t a mechanical problem," he said. “We will have to wait for the findings of the accident investigators.” All the evidence collected so far is from non-experts so a lot of what we have been told is pure speculation".

The stricken plane had a capacity of four seats and was built in 1979. According to the president, the engine was replaced three and a half years ago, so it was said to be in perfect condition.

This is the second death from Muxtamel airfield in less than one year after an Alicante pilot died when crashing his ultralight into the mountains of Alzira on June 13. That aircraft was much lighter causing it to flip over several times after suffering a gust of wind until it finally plunging to the ground.

Story and Photos:  http://www.theleader.info


http://multimedia.diarioinformacion.com/fotos

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